Loading ...The search for Jerod Mayo’s successor has begun for the New England Patriots.
The Patriots, who fired Mayo after just one season as head coach, announced they have already interviewed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rappaport, New England will interview former Patriots offensive lineman Mike Vrable on Thursday.
Vrable played for the Patriots from 2001-2008, winning three championships, and was previously the Tennessee Titans’ head coach from 2018-2023.
“Mike Vrable is absolutely a leading candidate for the New England Patriots head coaching job,” ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter said earlier this week on the Pat McAfee Show. Schefter also revealed that Vrable has already interviewed with the Chicago Bears and is expected to talk to the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets in the coming days.
The Patriots finished the 2024 season with a 4-13 record, matching last year’s dismal record that led to Bill Belichick’s departure. The season also saw the Pats lose six consecutive games from Week 2 to Week 7, the longest losing streak for the team in over 30 years.
Despite winning their last game of the season on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement announcing his decision to fire Mayo.
“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.
Mayo will depart the Patriots organization after playing linebacker for the team from 2008-2015 and various coaching roles under Bill Belichick after his playing career ended.
“This was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I’ve known Jerod for 17 years,” Kraft said.
During a Monday press conference, Kraft further explained his decision to fire Mayo.
“I guess the main thing for me is I felt we regressed. The high point of everything was winning in the Cincinnati game (Week 1), and in the midseason, I just think we started to regress,” Kraft said. “I don’t like losing. I don’t like the way we lost. Just things were not developing the way we would have liked, and it was time to move on.”
Kraft ultimately took the blame for the disappointing season.
“This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation,” Kraft said.
The new Patriots head coach will enter the offseason with nine draft picks, including the No. 4 overall pick, and over $100 million in cap space.
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