From left: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and newly appointed head coach Jerod Mayo speak to the media during a news conference unveiling Mayo at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.
A new era began Wednesday in Foxborough: After 24 years, the New England Patriots introduced a new head coach.
Jerod Mayo, a former Patriot himself, sat with owner Robert Kraft and took questions about the team's new direction. He described himself as a teacher by calling — and addressed his predecessor, arguably the greatest NFL coach of all time, Bill Belichick.
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"I'm not trying to be Bill. I think that Bill is his own man," Mayo said. "The more I think about, like, the lessons that I've taken from Bill: hard work works, and that's what we're all about."
Mayo has been on the team's coaching staff since 2019. However, he brings some other titles with him, including youngest head coach in the NFL and the first Black head coach for New England.
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Both Mayo and Kraft were asked about what it meant that Mayo will be the team's first Black head coach.
Kraft said he chose Mayo because he's the best man for the job, who "happens to be a man of color."
Asked by former teammate Devin McCourty, now a "Football Night in America" analyst, if he's had time to let it soak in that he's the first Black Patriots coach, Mayo replied, "I haven't had that opportunity. But we're turning up tonight, back to work tomorrow."
"It's always inspiring to see someone who looks like you in a position of influence and power," said Rahssan Hall, CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. "It gives young Black children the opportunity to aspire to higher heights. To see someone like Jerod Mayo ascend to the highest echelon of professional sports and coaching a major franchise like the New England Patriots says that a lot is possible."
After five years as a position coach in New England, Mayo, 37, will be filling some big shoes left by Belichick after the team suffered their worst season since 1992.
Kraft said he's been set on Mayo as Belichick's successor since they went on a trip to Israel together in 2019 and connected on a deep level.
"I trust that Jerod is the right person to lead the Patriots back to championship-level contention and long-term success," Kraft said.
Mayo was announced as Belichick's replacement on Friday — a day after the former Patriots coach and team owners officially parted ways.
Mayo had it written into his contract last year that he would be Belichick's successor. That's why the Patriots did not have to go through a full search to hire a new coach.
The Patriots announced a year ago that the club was planning to give him a contract extension that would keep him with the team long-term. And now, he's the 15th coach of the franchise.
Mayo first joined the patriots in 2008 as a first-round pick and played for the Pats through 2015. He then came back in 2019 to be their inside linebacker's coach.
As for who will fill out the rest of the coaching roster — and whether the Patriots will appoint a general manager — that still remains to be seen. Kraft and Mayo both said those processes were underway.
