Jerod Mayo Fired After One Season as New England Patriots Head Coach Following Disappointing 4-13 Record

Jerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo has been let go as the head coach of the New England Patriots after just one season, the team announced on Sunday. The Patriots finished the 2024 season with a disappointing 4-13 record, marking the shortest tenure for a head coach in franchise history, tied with Rod Rust, who went 1-15 in 1990. Mayo’s departure came despite high expectations, as he had been handpicked by team owner Robert Kraft to succeed Bill Belichick and had shown promise as a leader during his playing and coaching career.

Kraft expressed that the decision was one of the hardest he had ever made, citing his long-standing relationship with Mayo and his respect for him both as a player and a coach. Kraft acknowledged that Mayo’s leadership and connection with players were evident, but the team’s performance throughout the season did not meet expectations. Kraft also stated that he felt the Patriots’ fans deserved a better product, and in light of this, a change in direction was necessary to return to championship contention.

Mayo, who had been a key member of the Patriots as a linebacker and later as a coach, had big shoes to fill as Belichick’s successor. Despite high hopes, the team struggled on both sides of the ball, particularly with a defense that underperformed relative to expectations. The defense was one of the main areas of disappointment during Mayo’s brief tenure, ranking poorly in takeaways and quarterback pressures. Despite his background as a defensive player and coach, Mayo was unable to turn the unit around.

Though the Patriots ended their season with a win over the Buffalo Bills, which dropped them from the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft to No. 4, it was not enough to save Mayo’s job. Kraft had been concerned about Mayo’s potential departure to other teams before the season, which led to the addition of a succession clause in Mayo’s contract, signaling that he was the future of the franchise. However, the team’s performance this year prompted Kraft to make a change, emphasizing that the decision was not due to lack of talent but rather the broader challenges of Mayo’s first year as a head coach.

Mayo’s firing places him among a rare group of head coaches who were dismissed after just one season. This list includes names like Frank Reich, Nathaniel Hackett, and Urban Meyer, marking a challenging start to Mayo’s coaching career. Despite the setback, Mayo’s potential as a future head coach is still widely believed in, and Kraft expressed his confidence that Mayo would succeed in the NFL in the future.

The Patriots now shift their focus to finding their 16th head coach, with former linebacker and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel emerging as a potential candidate. As Kraft acknowledged the growing pains that come with a rookie head coach, the team’s future depends on finding a leader capable of rebuilding the roster and restoring the team’s competitive edge. The Patriots are now in a new chapter, one that will seek to overcome the struggles of the past season and build for a more successful future.