Jerod Mayo will reportedly supplant the greatest in NFL history as the new head coach for the New England Patriots.
It’s a quick hire by the Patriots after mutually agreeing to part ways with Bill Belichick on Thursday. Some would even call it a surprising one considering Mike Vrabel recently came free after being fired by the Tennessee Titans.
But the Patriots always had Mayo pegged as the coach to replace Belichick and even reportedly had it written in his contract. Owner Robert Kraft and the team is simply following through with a succession plan that was already in place. But did they make the right decision?
That’s a question that will be dissected and picked apart for months. One thing is for certain: Mayo is highly-respected by ownership and players in the locker room. He has also spent years learning under Belichick as both a player and coach.
Here’s what fans were saying about the hire on social media:
Jerod Mayo will probably be a good coach, but I never understand when teams hire a coach first and don’t allow the GM to pick his guy
— 𝐫𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐣 (@itsryanj) January 12, 2024
I had the pleasure of working with Jerod Mayo for a handful of years on Quick Slants. I learned that he’s…
-An infectious human being
-Very smart
-A joy to be around
-An elite gif user— Robert Snyder (@RobbieBuckets) January 12, 2024
Really not understanding this Jerod Mayo hire… you want new culture and want change? Why would you take someone that’s from within that’s only ever learned from Bill? #sinking #rebuild
— McFadden Leverrete (@McfaddenLev1) January 12, 2024
Yesterday Kraft said that he hired Belichick from the Jets after he regretted not hiring him before he left with Parcells. That makes me appreciate the Jerod Mayo move even more. Kraft believes in him.
— Charlie (@CharlieTFV) January 12, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS JEROD MAYO!!!! First Black Head Coach in Patriots History!!!!
— ShakesBeard, M.S. 🇨🇻🏁 (@BeardedScholar) January 12, 2024
I'm really happy for Jerod Mayo because he was an awesome football player and has always been a likeable guy, but I'm curious to see how this plays out.
— Chris Winn (@ChrisWinn211) January 12, 2024
With Jerod Mayo becoming Patriots head coach, this means that the Patriots will finally have a real face scanned head coach in Madden for the first time since 2001
— Kyle (@fadedmxstery) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo is the next Patriot’s head coach. I’m just going to watch from afar.
— Annalise Keating (@Ariannnyy_) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo new Patriots coach…Let’s go ooooooo!!!!!!!!
— Gino Reed (@GinoBets87) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo🔥
— UGA Back2Back🏈🏆🏆 (@TUCK_CMS) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo definitely bringing fresh minds into that patriot house. Former teammates on the staff.
— Lex Diamond 💎 (@aplaymkr) January 12, 2024
The Patriots hiring of Jerod Mayo will negatively impact their search for a GM. Any potential GM now will need to have buy in that Mayo is the right guy for the job as the new GM will not be able to hire his own coach. #Patriots
— Matt Todd (@mtodd18) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo coming into @Patriots offices today. pic.twitter.com/TxfQFQO75c
— Andre (@TwoxScoops) January 12, 2024
I can understand them hiring Jerod Mayo because he’s a really good coach and a former Patriots player, so he can relate to the guys in the locker room. Maybe Mike Vrabel gets a coordinator job with the Patriots.
— Matthew Kempf (@mjk21_) January 12, 2024
Jerod Mayo over Mike Vrabel is crazy 💀💀💀 https://t.co/WTt0NbxYgF
— Levi 🇺🇲🏈⛄ (@MadewithSteel99) January 12, 2024
Hope Jerod Mayo is the guy, but think Vrabel would’ve been Kraft’s guy if the successor clause wasn’t written in the contract
— Garrin Marchetti (@GarrinMarchetti) January 12, 2024
I like the Jerod mayo hire!
— ❄️🐧 (@F00tballJunkie) January 12, 2024
SMH…Jerod Mayo is the new HC of the New England Patriots…You'd think they'd completely turn the page but NOOO….Makes me believe it's gonna be more of the same ol' same ol' sludging through mediocrity.
— Chris F. 🌎 citizen 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 focused 🙏🇺🇦❤️ (@SPTO) January 12, 2024
I respect that the Kraft’s had set up a Jerod Mayo post-Belichick succession plan and then stuck with it…
but I am absolutely shocked that with Mike Vrabel freely available on the open market, #ForeverNE still stuck with the continuity plan. Shocked…— Greg Cover 1 🏈 (@GregTompsett) January 12, 2024
37 Year old Jerod Mayo to coach #ForeverNE. Obviously been in the works for some time and he is a great defensive mind. Hope he can turn things around.
— BellyTalksSports (@TalksBelly) January 12, 2024
