Patriots Potential Head Coach Jerod Mayo Responds to ‘Wrong Way’ Rumors
FOXBORO — New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has never shied away from expressing his thoughts, opinions or feelings on any given subject — especially when it comes to football.
However, the 37-year-old Pats’ assistant was particularly candid when responding to a recent Boston Sports Journal report alleging he has “rubbed at least some people [within the organization] the wrong way” since signing a contract extension in the offseason.
Knowing that implications of this type could negatively impact his chances to become an NFL head coach — particularly as successor to Bill Belichick in New England — Mayo sought to set the record straight when speaking with reporters on Tuesday morning.
“Yeah, honestly, I try to stay out of reading a lot of the articles and things during the year…But, when that report came out, my brother sent it to me … it was more hurtful than anything.” Mayo said in a serious tone. “I found the timing to be a little bit weird in my opinion.”
New England Patriots Inside LB Coach Jerod Mayo
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire
Though he stopped short of questioning the report’s validity, Mayo appeared genuinely disheartened by its shifting the focus away from a Pats defense which has played at a surprisingly high level despite the team’s dismal 4-12 record. New England will enter Week 18 ranked at No. 6 in overall defense in the NFL, allowing a defensive yards average of 304.6, as well as 19.2 yards-per-game.
For all intents and purposes, Mayo has been among the lead architects for New England’s recent defense renaissance. Throughout the past five seasons, he has served as one of the Patriots’ top defensive assistant coaches. Alongside outside linebackers coach Stephen Belichick, he has been intricately involved in the defensive play calling strategy, essentially carrying out the duties of an unofficial co-defensive coordinator. His ability to communicate and mentor has earned him the respect of his peers and players alike.
Mayo’s multifaceted approach to coaching has also made him a highly-coveted commodity since 2020. Despite having yet to hold a head coaching position, Mayo has been considered for several such openings throughout the league including that of the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos during that time — oftentimes praised for his ability to connect with his players and teach them the fundamentals required for success in the NFL.
Accordingly, team owner Robert Kraft and the Patriots brass made it an offseason priority to keep Mayo in the Foxboro fold for the foreseeable future. By signing him to a contract extension, several within Patriots Nation began to view him as the organization’s top choice to succeed Belichick.
Considering the numerous struggles New England has endured this season, Mayo’s time could come as soon as 2024 — if Belichick and the Pats part ways in the coming weeks.
While Mayo’s intentions seem free of purposefully belittling or angering anyone, he did acknowledge that positions of power carry greater responsibility. As such, exercising his authority comes with an inherent risk of ruffling some proverbial feathers.
“I would say, anytime there's change or anything like that, like it's going to be painful, and someone's gonna rub you the wrong way.” Mayo explained. “At the same time, I try to treat everyone the same way. And I will say this: I thought about it for a while. When people talk about 'rubbing people the wrong way' -- obviously, sometimes, that's part of the job of being a leader, is to rub people the wrong way. And I always try to be constructive and respectful in my feedback. Some people appreciate that transparency, and some don't.”
Whether the anonymous sentiments regarding Mayo’s professional demeanor will impact his consideration as Belichick’s successor — either sooner or later — is still a matter of conjecture. To his credit, the former Pats All-Pro linebacker is choosing to use them as an opportunity to grow as both a football coach and a personnel manager. It is also obvious that he wishes to clear the air with whomever may be less-than enchanted with his mannerisms.
“It actually helped me,” Mayo said. “It kind of triggered a period of self-reflection …And we all have blind spots, and maybe that's one of my blind spots. But at the end of the day, hopefully, whoever put that story out is man or woman enough to bring it to my attention to have a conversation."
Despite the metaphoric potholes on the path to his goal, Mayo also appears ready to take the reins of an NFL team at a moment’s notice.
"I feel like I'm prepared. I feel like I'm ready,” he said sharply. “I look forward to that opportunity, wherever that may be."
The Patriots will return to the practice fields on Wednesday to begin preparations for their Week 18 season-finale against the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
