Patriots Laid Groundwork for Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s Successor Before Season, per Report

The Patriots might be able to get started with a new coach sooner than expected.

Following Bill Belichick’s departure from the New England Patriots on Thursday, the team is seeking a new head coach for the first time in more than two decades.

Jerod Mayo, who played for the Patriots for the entirety of his NFL career and has served as a linebackers coach since 2019, has emerged as a likely candidate to step into the role vacated by Belichick, and NFL insider Ian Rapoport indicated Thursday afternoon that the Patriots would have a simplistic path toward installing him as coach if that’s the route they choose to take.

During an appearance on NFL Total Access, Rapoport reported that the team had laid out the groundwork for Mayo to take over the role prior to the 2023 NFL season.

Rapoport’s sources tell him that prior to the season, New England had contractually established Mayo as Belichick’s successor and communicated that to the NFL. Having done that, the team would be able to hire Mayo without going through a lengthy hiring process.

From @NFLTotalAccess: Prior to the season, the #Patriots contractually established Jerod Mayo as the successor to Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/RdSIj3bfmD

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2024

The report indicates that New England hasn’t officially settled on Mayo as its next head coach, though he certainly appears to be a leading candidate. Rapoport also notes that there is precedent for this type of move, indicating the Baltimore Ravens handled things in similar fashion when naming Eric DeCosta their GM. 

Back in March of 2023, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Mayo was a “strong candidate to be the heir apparent” to Belichick.

Mayo, 37, was a linebacker for the Patriots from 2008-15. A two-time Pro Bowler, Mayo featured in 103 games for the team and was part of the 2014 championship team. He rejoined the organization as an inside linebackers coach in 2019, and was the linebackers coach in 2023.