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The New England Patriots have moved on quickly from the Hoodie.
Less than 24 hours after announcing its parting of ways from legendary head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots are promoting linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to the top coaching job, according to multiple reports. Set to be formally announced next week, Mayo will be the first Black head coach in Patriots history. At 37, Mayo will be the youngest NFL head coach, beating the Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay by one month.
A former star linebacker for the Patriots, Mayo will carry the heavy burden of filling the massive shoes of Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner widely considered the greatest coach in NFL history. Much of the Patriots’ brand and $7 billion franchise value is tied to the winning culture that Belichick created, and Mayo will be tasked with carrying that into a new era.
The Patriots, however, are in a reset mode after finishing in 2023 in last place in the AFC East for the first time since 2000. Because of that, the team has the third pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Because Mayo was identified as a potential successor to Belichick in a prior contract extension, the Patriots were able to leapfrog normal NFL hiring processes. That speed will allow Mayo and Patriots owner Robert Kraft an entire offseason to develop a new staff and prepare for the draft, and Kraft will also hire a new general manager to work with Mayo.
