Jerod Mayo, the new head coach of the New England Patriots, was pleased to see Mac Jones working out in the weight room after his introduction. Mayo admires Jones’ attitude and mentality, which he believes will help the team turn the page and move forward. Mayo’s appointment has raised questions about the future of the team, including whether Jones’ career can be revived under his leadership. Jones was one of five players present at Mayo’s introduction, and Mayo is currently evaluating all positions, including coaches. Jones had a promising rookie season in 2021, but his development has since stalled. It is unclear whether this is due to his own doing or Belichick’s decision-making. Belichick demoted Jones to third quarterback in the regular-season finale, which some players speculated was a statement about earning game-day roster spots.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick drew a parallel between the Belichick-Jones pairing and the Flores-Tagovailoa relationship in Miami. Fitzpatrick suggested that Jones was “broken” as a quarterback from Belichick’s coaching, similar to how Flores treated and coached Tagovailoa before McDaniel “restored his confidence.” With Mayo and a new offensive coordinator taking over, there are questions about whether the same dynamic could unfold in New England. Mayo emphasized the importance of personal connection in his coaching style, including mental health and adjusting his coaching style based on his group’s feelings. The Patriots own the No. 3 overall draft pick, and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes they are well-positioned regardless of what happens with the first two picks. Mayo’s offensive coaching staff remains a big question, with Troy Brown potentially being one of the few holdovers. Mayo’s initial assistant coaching interviews have been more on defense and special teams. Belichick had his second interview with the Atlanta Falcons, which could set up a Gillette Stadium homecoming in 2025 if they hire him as head coach.
Bill Belichick’s sons, Steve and Brian, have been offered the chance to stay with the Patriots if they wish. Steve and Mayo have a close relationship, so Steve would be a good fit as an assistant head coach/senior adviser. Brian, who has experience in scouting and recently worked as safeties coach, was spotted at Gillette Stadium late last week.
During his introduction as coach, Mayo referred to 82-year-old Kraft as “Young Thundercat,” a nickname he gave him 10 years ago. Mayo believes Kraft has a unique ability to connect with people, regardless of age or race, and wearing sneakers with his suit is just one example of this.
David Andrews, the Patriots center and longtime captain, is in the final year of his contract, which pays him a base salary of $4.5 million and counts $8.425 million against the salary cap. Andrews has expressed his love for the team and hopes to finish his career in New England.
Jerod Mayo, the first Black coach in Patriots history, believes that equal opportunity should be given to the best candidates, regardless of race. At 38 years old, Mayo will be the third youngest former player to make his head-coaching debut in the past 30 years, behind Jeff Fisher and Kevin O’Connell.
