Jerod Mayo’s first season as the New England Patriots head coach hasn’t gone as smoothly as hoped.
The team currently sits at a disappointing 2-7 record, and Mayo has faced criticism for some questionable decisions during games, along with a few offbeat remarks.
Earlier in the season, there were even rumors of a possible locker room “mutiny.”
Despite these issues, Mayo’s job seems secure for at least another year, and the former standout linebacker is already committed to improvement in 2025. “Just like a player, you expect them to make their biggest leap from Year 1 to Year 2,” Mayo said in a statement to Keagan Stiefel of NESN. “For me, I expect the same from myself as a head coach, and that means taking a hard look at areas for improvement.”
To be fair, the Patriots didn’t start the season with an especially strong roster, though Mayo shares some responsibility for that given his role in personnel decisions. Mayo is focused on becoming a better coach overall. “It’s a mix of things,” he noted. “From X’s and O’s to situational football, and even to the structure and culture of the team.
Do I think I’ve done things right? Absolutely. But are there ways to improve? Definitely. And are there things I wish I’d done differently? Yes.”
This season has been a learning experience for Mayo, who previously coached the linebackers before stepping into the head coach role after Bill Belichick’s departure.
The bright side is that Mayo seems to have found a potential franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, giving fans in Foxborough some reason to be optimistic. The Patriots’ next matchup is against the Chicago Bears this Sunday.
