Patriots fire Jerod Mayo after one season as coach; other NFL teams also announce plans

AP photo by Robert F. Bukaty / New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo walks on the field prior to Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass. Team owner Robert Kraft announced after the game that Mayo, a former New England linebacker and assistant under Bill Belichick, would not be brought back for a second season leading the Patriots. AP photo by Robert F. Bukaty / New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo walks on the field prior to Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough, Mass. Team owner Robert Kraft announced after the game that Mayo, a former New England linebacker and assistant under Bill Belichick, would not be brought back for a second season leading the Patriots.

By The Associated Press January 5, 2025 13 min read

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after the team parted with longtime leader Bill Belichick.

Team owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills, a division rival and the AFC East champion.

“After the game I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Kraft said. “Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.”

Kraft was set to discuss the move in a news conference Monday.

A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But alongside a coaching staff that featured offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and first-time defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.