The New England Patriots have fired head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season, the team announced Sunday. Mayo led the Patriots to a disappointing 3-14 record in his lone year at the helm.
What We Know:
- Mayo was promoted from inside linebackers coach to head coach in January 2023, replacing Bill Belichick
- The Patriots started the season 1-0 but lost 13 of their next 15 games
- New England’s final win dropped them from the first to fourth pick in the upcoming NFL draft
- Mayo faced criticism for calling his team “soft” and delaying the start of rookie QB Drake Maye
- The Patriots struggled on both offense and defense under Mayo’s leadership
Patriots owner Robert Kraft called the decision “one of the hardest” he’s ever made, stating: “Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.”
Kraft apologized to fans, saying they “expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years.” He emphasized that this move was necessary to “expedite our return to championship contention.”
The search for a new head coach will now begin as the Patriots look to rebuild after their worst season in decades.
This is a breaking news story.