The New England Patriots are considering an internal promotion to fill the void left by the departure of Bill Belichick, with linebackers coach Jerod Mayo emerging as the frontrunner for the head coach position.
Following the announcement that Bill Belichick would not return for the 2024 season after 24 years with the team, reports suggest that Mayo, who recently extended his contract with the team, is the leading candidate for the head coaching role.
Patriots team owner Robert Kraft had previously identified Mayo as a strong contender for the position, referring to him as the “heir apparent” back in March.
While the Patriots plan to conduct a formal coaching search, with former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel rumored to be on the list of candidates, Jerod Mayo’s experience and familiarity with the franchise make him a prominent choice.
Both Vrabel and Mayo have strong connections to the Patriots, being franchise legends and Super Bowl champions. Vrabel played eight seasons with the Patriots, contributing to their three Super Bowl victories. After retiring, he pursued coaching roles before becoming the head coach for the Tennessee Titans.
On the other hand, Jerod Mayo, a former Patriots player, was drafted by the team in 2008 and had a successful playing career, including winning Super Bowl XLIX in the 2014 season. Following his retirement, he joined the Patriots staff as an inside linebackers coach in 2019. Mayo’s longstanding association with the Patriots organization positions him as a natural choice to step into the head coaching role.
