New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has reportedly turned down the Carolina Panthers’ request to interview him for their vacant head coaching job.
The news was confirmed by the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian on Saturday afternoon.
On Thursday, the Patriots made an unprecedented public announcement that they were working towards extending Mayo long-term in an effort to keep him in New England.
The initial thought was that the team was doing everything they could to keep him from leaving for a vacant defensive coordinator position, but the fact that he turned down a head coaching opportunity is surprising. Mayo has been adamant about his desire to be a head coach in the NFL, and the interview with the Panthers might have opened the door to that opportunity.
A promotion within the Patriots organization seems likely. One also has to wonder if there have been some assurances made that Mayo could be next in line to take up the head coaching mantle in New England once Belichick rides off into the sunset.
With the Patriots being more open than normal, we might not have to wait long for answers.
