The New England Patriots have announced that Jerod Mayo will not return to the team in 2025. He will go one-and-done as head coach of the team for which he previously played.
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Multiple NFL insiders reported the news on Sunday evening shortly after the Patriots defeated the Bills 23-16. Team owner and CEO Robert Kraft then confirmed the firing with a long statement.
"After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025," Kraft said in a statement. "For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room, and the way he conducted himself in our community.
"When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions. Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team's performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped."
Kraft continued and said that he views the team as a public asset. He apologized to Patriots fans for the product that his team has put on the field in recent seasons. He added that he viewed firing Mayo as the best option to get his team back to championship contention.
"I am grateful for Jerod's many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always be rooting for his success," Kraft continued.
"I appreciate all his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future, as I still believe he will be a successful head coach in this league. I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future."
The firing marks a change for Mayo and the Patriots. NFL insider Ian Rapoport previously reported on Dec. 22, 2024, that the Patriots were expected to retain Mayo. Rapoport said that the Krafts believed the turnaround would be a multi-year process and that the defender-turned-coach was the right man to lead the franchise.
However, the longtime NFL insider noted that the situation could change if everything went off the rails and Mayo lost the locker room.
The Patriots lost 24-21 to the Bills hours after Rapoport's report. They then lost 40-7 to the Chargers, which temporarily gave Kraft's team the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The win over the Bills in the regular-season finale gave the No. 1 pick back to the Titans, who lost to the Texans.
With the Patriots firing the head coach, the immediate question focuses on the replacement. The obvious choice is Mike Vrabel, the former Patriots defender who has generated interest from multiple teams so far. The list of potential suitors includes the rival Jets.
