Did the Patriots and Robert Kraft Bet Too Much on Jerod Mayo?
The New England Patriots have always been a franchise that operates with precision and foresight, consistently putting themselves ahead of the curve. But as the 2024 season unfolds under new head coach Jerod Mayo, there are growing concerns that Robert Kraft and the organization may have made a critical miscalculation by naming Mayo the successor to Bill Belichick without conducting a proper coaching search.
Kraft’s loyalty to Mayo is clear—as revealed onThursday’s Amazon Prime pregame show in advance of the Patriots-Jets game, which saw the Patriots get picked apart by The Jets and a Vintage looking Aaron Rodgers, 24-3–he picked Mayo as Belichick’s heir apparent five years ago. But given the early struggles of the 2024 season, with the Patriots sitting at 1-2 and showing glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball, it’s time to ask a tough question: Was this the right decision for the long-term health of the franchise?
Jerod Mayo: The Heir Apparent Plan
In today’s NFL, where turnover and quick fixes often reign supreme, the Patriots have long prided themselves on stability. Bill Belichick's two-decade reign as head coach was the gold standard for long-term success. When Belichick's era finally came to an end following a 4-13 season in 2023, Kraft’s succession plan kicked into gear without a second thought.
For years, speculation swirled about who might replace the legendary coach. Some argued that it would take an outsider, like Mike Vrabel, with head coaching experience to fill the massive void left by Belichick. Others believed that a coach with deep roots in the Patriots' culture, like Mayo, would be better suited for the role. Ultimately, Kraft went with the latter, promoting Mayo to head coach without even entertaining external candidates.
It’s worth asking: was that decision too rash?
Kraft saw Mayo as the perfect leader for the team as early as 2019. This belief led to Mayo being secured via a succession clause in his contract, allowing Kraft to bypass the Rooney Rule requirement of interviewing two external minority candidates for the position. While this was seen as “smart management,” it also meant that Kraft didn’t give himself, or the franchise, a chance to evaluate other potentially strong candidates.
Growing Pains Under Mayo: The Patriots’ 2024 Struggles
As the dust settles on the Patriots' Week 3 blowout loss to the Jets, it’s clear that the team is struggling under its new leadership. After a shocking Week 1 upset over the Cincinnati Bengals, the team’s flaws were laid bare in back-to-back losses, with the offense sputtering and the defense unable to make crucial stops.The 24-3 loss to the Jets was particularly painful, with Jacoby Brissett being sacked five times, Rhamondre Stevenson fumbling for the third consecutive game, and Aaron Rodgers picking apart the defense.
Mayo’s coaching style, often described as that of a "players' coach," is a far cry from the rigid and disciplined methods of Belichick. While fostering player relationships and creating a more open dialogue with the roster is admirable, it hasn’t translated to the level of execution that Patriots fans have come to expect. Missed tackles, turnovers, and disjointed game plans are becoming all too familiar.
The Patriots currently look like a team in transition, one that’s struggling to find its identity without the ironclad control of Belichick. While Mayo's more personable, approachable style may resonate with today’s players, it doesn’t appear to be yielding immediate results on the field.
No Coaching Search: A Missed Opportunity
One of the most puzzling aspects of Kraft’s decision to elevate Mayo is the complete lack of a coaching search. Kraft’s loyalty to Mayo was unwavering, and it seems he believed that Mayo’s experience both as a player and as an assistant under Belichick would be enough to ensure a smooth transition. But this choice bypassed the opportunity to evaluate other candidates with head coaching experience, particularly in a time when the Patriots desperately need fresh ideas and strong leadership.
Mike Vrabel, who was also rumored to be a candidate for the Patriots' head coaching job, was perhaps the most intriguing alternative. With years of experience as the Titans' head coach and a deep understanding of the Patriots' culture, Vrabel seemed like a natural fit. But Kraft stuck to his guns, choosing continuity over potentially exploring a new direction.
At a time when the Patriots are rebuilding from the ground up, it’s worth considering whether Kraft missed a golden opportunity to bring in a head coach with more experience in leading a team through difficult times. Instead, Mayo, who is only 38 years old and in his first head coaching job, is now tasked with carrying the weight of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.
Can Mayo Right the Ship?
It’s still early in the 2024 season, and it’s certainly too soon to call the Mayo experiment a failure. After all, Bill Belichick’s first year with the Patriots ended in a 5-11 season, and that eventually gave way to two decades of dominance. But it’s hard to ignore the signs of trouble that are already bubbling to the surface.
The offensive line is a disaster, Jacoby Brissett is struggling behind constant pressure, and Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumble problems are becoming a serious liability. The defense, which was supposed to be a strength under Mayo’s leadership, has missed tackles, given up big plays, and failed to execute in critical moments. In the Patriots’ overtime loss to the Seahawks in Week 2, they couldn’t hold a three-point lead in the fourth quarter—something that rarely happened under Belichick.
Mayo has big shoes to fill, and the early signs are that the Patriots’ issues are deeper than just coaching. The team lacks the discipline and attention to detail that defined the Belichick era, and while Mayo’s more relaxed approach may pay off in the long run, it’s hard to argue with the results so far.
Was Kraft’s Loyalty to Mayo a Mistake?
There’s no question that Kraft is a shrewd businessman and one of the most respected owners in the NFL. But it’s possible that his loyalty to Mayo clouded his judgment in making this critical decision. Rather than conducting a thorough coaching search and bringing in external candidates with fresh perspectives, Kraft stuck with the familiar and promoted from within.
In hindsight, this may not have been the best decision. The Patriots are in a clear rebuilding phase, and having a first-time head coach leading that process is a gamble. Kraft may have underestimated just how big of a transition this would be after Belichick’s departure. A more experienced head coach could have provided the stability and leadership needed to guide the team through these rough waters.
The Patriots Are at a Crossroads
The 2024 season was never going to be easy for the Patriots, but it’s becoming clear that the transition from Bill Belichick to Jerod Mayo is more turbulent than anticipated. Mayo’s inexperience as a head coach, combined with the team’s glaring weaknesses on both sides of the ball, has led to a rocky start.
While it’s too early to completely write off Mayo’s tenure, the Patriots and Kraft may need to reevaluate their decision-making process. Could a broader coaching search have yielded a more qualified candidate? Did Kraft’s loyalty to Mayo lead the team down a path that’s now difficult to recover from?
Only time will tell if Mayo can rise to the occasion and prove Kraft’s gamble was the right one. But as of now, the Patriots are at a crossroads, and the stakes are higher than ever.
