Who’s Jerod Mayo? Street map for post-Belichick Patriots coach

The New England Patriots are hiring Jerod Mayo because the fifteenth head coach in franchise historical past, sources inform ESPN’s Adam Schefter, transitioning rapidly after parting methods with Invoice Belichick on Thursday.

Mayo, who turns 38 on Feb. 23, turns into the youngest head coach within the NFL and had been recognized as a prime goal by Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft for a while.

Taking a better look, Patriots reporter Mike Reiss solutions 4 huge questions in regards to the Mayo hiring, together with what comes subsequent. Nationwide reporter Jeremy Fowler dishes on what he is listening to in regards to the rent, and draft analyst Jordan Reid spins it ahead to the draft. Lastly, entrance workplace analyst Mike Tannenbaum grades the rent.

Let’s get to it.

Who’s Jerod Mayo and what makes him match?

Reiss: Mayo is a former Patriots linebacker (2008-15) whose management was evident when he was elected a captain in his second season — a uncommon feat in New England. He labored in finance upon his retirement from soccer earlier than being recruited again to the teaching employees beneath Belichick in 2019 to educate linebackers.

Some teammates used to check with him as “Invoice Jr.” as a result of his mixture of soccer intelligence and lengthy hours reminded them of Belichick. His head-coaching candidacy had notable help amongst defensive gamers within the locker room, and he beforehand interviewed with the Eagles and Broncos. The Panthers had requested an interview final yr, however Mayo elected to remain in New England.

How did this rent occur so rapidly?

Reiss: When the Patriots signed Mayo to a contract extension final offseason, they wrote succession plans into the contract that permits them to forgo a conventional NFL teaching search. Sources stated the projected plan was for that to occur after the 2024 season, however the Patriots’ 4-13 marketing campaign accelerated the timeline.

This is analogous to what the Ravens did of their normal supervisor transition from Ozzie Newsome to Eric DeCosta in 2019, the Indianapolis Colts of their head-coaching transition from Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell in 2008 and the Seattle Seahawks of their head-coaching transition from Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora in 2008.

What are the most important adjustments we will count on shifting from Belichick to Mayo?

Reiss: Mayo stated his strategy is to “coach out of affection” as a result of “when you construct that relationship with a man, you will be robust on the gamers.” That projected tradition could be a notable shift from Belichick, who developed sturdy relations with gamers via a bottom-line-business strategy. Additionally, Belichick had retained remaining say on personnel for many of his tenure. It’s unlikely the Patriots will give Mayo remaining say on personnel.

Will the Patriots rent a normal supervisor to work with Mayo?

Reiss: Sure, and the search is more likely to embody inside candidates. The present construction has director of participant personnel Matt Groh, director of scouting Eliot Wolf, senior personnel advisor Patrick Stewart, faculty scouting coordinator Camren Williams, and director of professional scouting Steve Cargile in main roles.

What are you listening to across the league on the rent?

Fowler: This isn’t a surprising transfer, because the Patriots dropped a significant trace final offseason when saying a brand new contract for Mayo. Hardly ever do the Patriots announce an assistant teaching extension. However this one, it seems, was a particular case, with the groundwork for a succession plan.

Mike Vrabel was the pure exterior match, however he was extra the shiny new toy than an precise candidate, because it seems. I’ve heard from a couple of coaches this morning who would have appreciated to see the Patriots run a broad search. However because the NFL’s revamped hiring practices are designed to supply extra alternatives for minority candidates, this can be a good one for Mayo, whom many league execs have circled as head-coach materials for some time now.

Are the Patriots positively drafting a brand new quarterback for Mayo at No. 3? Would the signal-callers accessible there be rapid upgrades over Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe?

Reid: The choices at No. 3 turn out to be much more fascinating with Mayo getting the New England job. The Pats are proper in the midst of the quarterback hunt and in place so as to add considered one of Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) or Jayden Daniels (LSU). Any of them could be a right away improve over the Pats’ present personnel beneath heart. The Patriots have been thirty first in QBR this season at 31.5, so it is the most important want.

However entertaining a trade-back situation can also be potential, with groups just like the Giants, Falcons, Vikings and Raiders all outdoors the highest 5 and in want of quarterback assist. I might see a situation the place the Patriots commerce again and pivot to including a veteran quarterback through free company — or drafting Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) or Bo Nix (Oregon) on Day 2.

New England additionally lacks expertise on the ability positions and will reap the benefits of a deep WR class. Each beginning tackles (Trent Brown and Mike Onwenu) are set to turn out to be free brokers, which additionally makes offensive sort out an early-round chance.

How would you grade this rent?

Tannenbaum: B. I prefer it from the standpoint that they’ve gotten to know Mayo through the years, a lot the identical method they obtained to know Belichick throughout the 1996 season (he was the defensive backs coach there) earlier than ultimately hiring him as their head coach in 2000. Nevertheless it’s actually vital that Mayo now hires an skilled employees — and ideally a former head coach because the offensive coordinator. Arthur Smith would match that invoice.