Patriots' Robert Kraft Reveals ‘Mayo Moment’
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft still remembers the moment well.
It's April 2008, and Kraft had just introduced his team's first-round draft pick, Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, to the media. Mayo, selected No. 10 overall, had a message for Kraft following the press conference.
"Kraft and Mayo, they go together pretty well," Kraft said Wednesday, recounting Mayo's comments. "16 years later, here we are."
"Here" is back in front of Patriots reporters, doing another introductory press conference - this time after announcing Mayo as New England's next head coach.
Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert Kraft (R) pose for photos after a press conference announcing Mayo's hiring as the team's head coach at Gillette Stadium.
Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Mayo's filling the shoes of his former coach, Bill Belichick, who was fired Jan. 11 after 24 years at the helm. Mayo played in eight of those seasons, logging 802 tackles, two Pro Bowl's, an All-Pro, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and a Super Bowl ring.
The tenure, which ended following the 2015 season, included several key takeaways for Kraft in his personal assessment of Mayo's profile.
"During his playing days, he was a student of the game who loved to watch film and was often described by his coaches and teammates as another coach on the field," Kraft said. "Football is Jerod's true passion. I believe coaching was always his destiny."
Still, when Mayo retired and pursued a business career with Optum, Kraft didn't feel like he'd lost Belichick's potential successor. Even when Mayo first came back to the Patriots as linebackers coach in 2019, Kraft was unsurprised but still hadn't considered Mayo as a potential head coach.
That all changed in a week.
Kraft and Mayo ventured to Israel, the "Holy Land," for religious purposes. It ended up being one of the biggest eye-openers in Kraft's life.
"The week we spent together in the Holy Land in 2019 really helped strengthen my convictions about how special Jerod is as a person and how capable I thought he would be as a head coach in this league," Kraft said.
Kraft compared this conviction to three other moments - meeting both his late wife Myra and his wife Dana and hiring Belichick in 2000.
Those are three pillars in Kraft's life. Mayo now forms a fourth.
"There have been many moments in my life that other people couldn't understand, but it was the right decision for me," Kraft said. "With Jerod, I knew while observing him in Israel, he was the right person to be the next head coach of the New England Patriots."
Kraft describes the 37-year-old Mayo as a man of faith with a good heart and a strong leader of men.
Kraft knew it when Mayo was a player and saw it again in Israel. He's also seen it since Mayo arrived as a coach, garnering respect and relatability from players.
And so, when Kraft decided it was time to part ways with Belichick, he wasted little time entering the next era.
The Patriots were the final NFL team to fire their head coach this offseason. They were the first to hire their next. It took just over 24 hours to announce Mayo as the successor, though NFL Network reported it had been contractually agreed upon prior to the season.
Regardless, Kraft has little doubt Mayo's the best candidate for the job. After all, the 82-year-old owner has seen Mayo grow from highly touted rookie to seasoned pro and from businessman to coach.
Now, Mayo's biggest test yet - replacing Belichick ... and Kraft, backed with 16 years of knowledge, feels he'll ace it.
"I've learned to trust my instincts throughout my career," Kraft said, "and I trust that Jerod is the right person to lead the Patriots back to the championship level contention and long-term success."
