Patriots/NFL Patriots fire Jerod Mayo after dismal 4-13 season

[BernieMcAvoy]

Can someone explain to me what is so special about Wolf? What has this guy done? He came in and was the director of scouting for 2 years and has been in his current role the last two years.

I feel the same way too but saw someone give an explanation that the Kraft's let Belichick run everything for so long that if they fired Wolf tomorrow, how many people in the building even understand how to run a coaching and front office search.


Wolf basically built half of the coaching staff for Mayo with former Browns and Packers coaches he knew. Who is stepping up and leading the coaching search if you kicked him out with Mayo? Jonathan? The guy who picked Belichick's successor because of a trip to Israel?

 

[Johnnyduke]

Sam Darnold has been absolutely horrific tonight against a banged up, mediocre defense

 

[Smitty93]

I feel the same way too but saw someone give an explanation that the Kraft's let Belichick run everything for so long that if they fired Wolf tomorrow, how many people in the building even understand how to run a coaching and front office search.


Wolf basically built half of the coaching staff for Mayo with former Browns and Packers coaches he knew. Who is stepping up and leading the coaching search if you kicked him out with Mayo? Jonathan? The guy who picked Belichick's successor because of a trip to Israel?

I doubt Wolf will actually be leading the coaching search for a very simple reason: most of the top candidates are already going to have their own GMs in mind and if they're hiring simply off who is willing to work with Wolf, we're probably looking at going through this same process in a few years.

 

[Boston Bandit]

Patriots head coaching search: 8 candidates to replace Jerod Mayo, starting with Mike Vrabel

This is the best place to start, as Vrabel is almost certainly going to be considered the favorite at first for this opening.

Vrabel spent this past season working as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns after losing his job leading the Tennessee Titans, who he took to a pair of division titles and the AFC championship game over his six seasons in Nashville. But after he was fired following the 2023 campaign, he’s been considered a top-tier candidate for openings across the league.

And, of course, he has plenty of connections with the Patriots. Vrabel spent eight seasons playing for the franchise, and he won three Super Bowls there alongside Tom Brady. He was even inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2023, which was something that reportedly helped lead to his firing in Tennessee.

Vrabel has already interviewed elsewhere in the league this cycle — he was reportedly in conversations with the New York Jets — and he’s sure to interview more in the near future, but the Patriots are undoubtedly a great fit for him personally. If there was a spot for Vrabel, who was once one of the hottest coaches in the league, to make his return, it’s in New England.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Coen or Johnson but it will be Vrabel

 

[Smitty93]

It's so funny to me seeing all these former players or non-local media act confused over Mayo's firing when it's pretty simple. It has very little to do with their actual record and what the expectations were heading into the season. They could have gone 0-17, but as long as the team showed growth throughout the season and didn't embarrass itself on and off the field, it would have been fine and Mayo would still be here. But he couldn't even meet that expectation. He was in over his head, and showed no signs that would change in the future.

I do feel bad for him. It's not like he was going to be a Patriots Hall of Famer, but he was well-regarded among fans, and the past year has destroyed his legacy in New England. Not really sure where his career goes from here. He doesn't seem to have money connections, but I hope someone gives him a chance where he can be an LB coach, and maybe even defensive coordinator in 5-10 years.

 

[CDJ]

 

[McGarnagle]

It's so funny to me seeing all these former players or non-local media act confused over Mayo's firing when it's pretty simple. It has very little to do with their actual record and what the expectations were heading into the season. They could have gone 0-17, but as long as the team showed growth throughout the season and didn't embarrass itself on and off the field, it would have been fine and Mayo would still be here. But he couldn't even meet that expectation. He was in over his head, and showed no signs that would change in the future.

I do feel bad for him. It's not like he was going to be a Patriots Hall of Famer, but he was well-regarded among fans, and the past year has destroyed his legacy in New England. Not really sure where his career goes from here. He doesn't seem to have money connections, but I hope someone gives him a chance where he can be an LB coach, and maybe even defensive coordinator in 5-10 years.

Steve Kasper was a well-regarded Bruin. He also destroyed his legacy in one year of coaching.

 

[Eddie Munson]

It's so funny to me seeing all these former players or non-local media act confused over Mayo's firing when it's pretty simple. It has very little to do with their actual record and what the expectations were heading into the season. They could have gone 0-17, but as long as the team showed growth throughout the season and didn't embarrass itself on and off the field, it would have been fine and Mayo would still be here. But he couldn't even meet that expectation. He was in over his head, and showed no signs that would change in the future.

I do feel bad for him. It's not like he was going to be a Patriots Hall of Famer, but he was well-regarded among fans, and the past year has destroyed his legacy in New England. Not really sure where his career goes from here. He doesn't seem to have money connections, but I hope someone gives him a chance where he can be an LB coach, and maybe even defensive coordinator in 5-10 years.

I feel for Mayo and have been saying for a few years now that the issues with this team all lead back to Kraft.

Even though I feel for Mayo and place the blame mostly on Kraft, Mayo consistently whiffed on things all year: Guys never seemed ready out of the gate for games, I've never seen so many penalties on opening kickoffs in my life, pre-snap idiotic penalties plagued them all year, his inability to have a coherent message with the media and his players lead to drama and possibly locker-room issues.

I think the pendulum now swings back the other way. We've gone from the hard ass "my way or the highway" coach to the more player friendly coach who I think Jonathan and Robert thought they could control. I think we end up with something closer to Bill than to Mayo for the next coach which makes sense with Vrabel's name out there.

That said, I love Vrabel but absolute hate the thought of another Bill disciple.

 

[GatorMike]

That said, I love Vrabel but absolute hate the thought of another Bill disciple.

Is Vrabel really a Belichick disciple?

I know he played for him, but he never worked for him as a coach. It'd be like saying Kevin O'Connell is part of the Belichick Coaching Tree.

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

Is Vrabel really a Belichick disciple?

I know he played for him, but he never worked for him as a coach. It'd be like saying Kevin O'Connell is part of the Belichick Coaching Tree.

I remember the pre-hype for Brady's last game for the Pats against the Titans where it was media portrayed that Vrabel had a grudge against Coach Belichick so I doubt he's a direct coaching discipline of his.

 

[Fenway]

 

[GatorMike]

 

[DKH]

Yeah Im not a huge McDaniels guy, but I also want to prevent another OC carousel for Maye in his first few years.

I think Daboll would be a far better choice, but he's absolutely getting another HC job if he came here and Maye and the offense looked good.

Dabol better chance of leaving to be HC

Mcdaniels 0.0

 

[DKH]

It's so funny to me seeing all these former players or non-local media act confused over Mayo's firing when it's pretty simple. It has very little to do with their actual record and what the expectations were heading into the season. They could have gone 0-17, but as long as the team showed growth throughout the season and didn't embarrass itself on and off the field, it would have been fine and Mayo would still be here. But he couldn't even meet that expectation. He was in over his head, and showed no signs that would change in the future.

I do feel bad for him. It's not like he was going to be a Patriots Hall of Famer, but he was well-regarded among fans, and the past year has destroyed his legacy in New England. Not really sure where his career goes from here. He doesn't seem to have money connections, but I hope someone gives him a chance where he can be an LB coach, and maybe even defensive coordinator in 5-10 years.

even the biggest Mayo supporter myself kind of lost it when he bright Maye back in week 16

Horrific move

Losing firstOA was a killer

You lose probably 3 players

 

[DKH]

Totally agree. Not doing this tomorrow feels personal.

Think they also wanted to change the headlines from "Pats Blow Top Pick" to "Pats Fire Unpopular Coach."

Take your medicine for one f***ing day.

Here is where I miss Wil McDonagh ~ he’d have this entire story (and probably be part of it)

I’m guessing a Jonathan Kraft orchestrated move

Jonathan was not at Mayo hiring for some reason

The Vrabel as Titans coach on bye week sitting with Krafts was nuts

Gotta think Jonathan starts being featured more as the head of org

It was classless yesterday but probably likely since they had to have talked and Mayo knew it and wasn’t quitting on team

He never showed joy on the sideline

Vrabel not getting will be a bigger shock to me not getting than Mayo being fired within an hour

I’m betting Jonathan did all this last week or two when he found out Vrabel available

How Ron Wolf’s book sheds light on Patriots’ path forward

Ron Wolf turned the Packers into champions. Here's how his son, Eliot Wolf, is following the same blueprint with the Patriots.

www.masslive.com

Interesting if they fire Wolf

 

[rfournier103]

I think the reason Mayo (and Van Pelt) were fired so soon after yesterday’s game is very simple - anger. In a way, deep down, the Krafts are fans, too. They’re pissed at how the season went and they’ve bitten their tongue (publicly) all season long.

I know how mad I am, and if I owned the Patriots and it were MY name attached to this, I’d be a thousand times angrier than I am now. Yes, I know they made their own bed, but the firings yesterday were an emotional reaction to a disastrous season.

 

[Therick67]

They needed to clean house last year and bring in a GM to run the show. Hopefully they aren't done cleaning house and will bring in someone with some actual football knowledge to take over and run the show.

The Krafts have proven they aren't capable of doing these searches right, lets hope that changes.

 

[DKH]

Boomer sure likes the Maye/Milton combo

He was very impressed with how ball came out of Milton - played control

My grade for AVP from my couch is B+

Boomer said the guy who he would go after is Tee Higgins who would be great with Maye

 

[DKH]

I think the reason Mayo (and Van Pelt) were fired so soon after yesterday’s game is very simple - anger. In a way, deep down, the Krafts are fans, too. They’re pissed at how the season went and they’ve bitten their tongue (publicly) all season long.

I know how mad I am, and if I owned the Patriots and it were MY name attached to this, I’d be a thousand times angrier than I am now. Yes, I know they made their own bed, but the firings yesterday were an emotional reaction to a disastrous season.

The season went as expected to me 2-5 wins

if Vrabel not available the Patriots absolutely have Mayo still and probably 1 overall

I’d rather have 1 OA and Mayo/AVP then Vrabel & 4

However I’m a Vrabel guy and 4 could be a blessing assuming the 2 QB go 1-2

It’s the 2-3 additional picks beyond the swap they lost in high picks that hurts

But I’ll be excited with Vrabel and 4 OA as there are three OL & DL guys I like

 

[GatorMike]

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

I think the reason Mayo (and Van Pelt) were fired so soon after yesterday’s game is very simple - anger. In a way, deep down, the Krafts are fans, too. They’re pissed at how the season went and they’ve bitten their tongue (publicly) all season long.

I know how mad I am, and if I owned the Patriots and it were MY name attached to this, I’d be a thousand times angrier than I am now. Yes, I know they made their own bed, but the firings yesterday were an emotional reaction to a disastrous season.

Seeing the team fail to lose the last meaningless game hopefully had something to do with it. Krafts must be livid.

Whether viewing as fan or investment yesterday was a loss.

 

[smithformeragent]

Sam Darnold has been absolutely horrific tonight against a banged up, mediocre defense

Yep.

With Detroit banged up, I think the Eagles have a pretty good path to the SB.

 

[RoccoF14]

Seeing the team fail to lose the last meaningless game hopefully had something to do with it. Krafts must be livid.

Whether viewing as fan or investment yesterday was a loss.

The Krafts only have themselves to blame for this fiasco.

The fact that Eliot Wolf is still employed by this organization after this past draft and free agency still boggles my mind. I seriously question his ability to judge NFL talent. I didn’t think it was possible to botch a draft any more than the Pats did collectively over the past 3 seasons, yet somehow he managed to prove me wrong.

Until that gets fixed, it ain’t gonna matter who coaches this team.

 

[incidental otter]

Can someone explain to me what is so special about Wolf? What has this guy done? He came in and was the director of scouting for 2 years and has been in his current role the last two years.

Prior to joining the Pats:

2004 - pro personnel asst, Packers
2008 - asst director, pro personnel, Packers
2011 - asst director of player personnel, Packers
2012 - director of pro personnel, Packers
2015 - director of player personnel, Packers
2016 - director football ops, Packers
2018 - asst GM, Browns

Much like Bill Belichick learning the game from his coach father, Eliot grew up learning scouting from Ron. As a kid he attended the combine, and was in the Packer draft room. Mike Sherman gave Eliot his first job with the organization based on that background. The Packers front office at the time was loaded with talent... many guys who would later go on to become GMs with other teams. So the fact that Wolf continued to matriculate up the ranks can be seen as a testament to the quality of his work.

For the Packers and Browns, Wolf was involved in the drafting of: Eddie Lacy, David Bakhtiari, Davante Adams, Kenny Clark, Jamaal Williams, Aaron Ward, Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward and Nick Chubb.