The New England Patriots seem to be already thinking about the life after Bill Belichick. The Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft said on Monday that assistant Jerod Mayo is a “strong candidate” to succeed Belichick once the team’s longtime head coach decides to step down.
Mayo, the former Pats’ player, is a rising coaching star in the NFL. He started his post-playing career as New England’s inside linebackers coach in 2019 and has done an impressive job since. This prompted other teams to try and pluck him away from the Patriots this offseason, but Mayo opted to remain with the franchise and sign an extension.
Many believe Mayo wants to continue building his resume with the Pats and then succeed Belichick when the time comes. That definitely seems to be an option, according to Kraft.
“There is no ceiling on his ability to grow and how competent he is, “said Kraft in a chat with reporters at the league meetings. “… I was happy we were able to keep him long term. I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.”
It is unclear if Mayo will get a chance to coach the Patriots anytime soon. Belichick didn’t signal that he is thinking about retirement and might stick around for more than a few seasons. The 70-year-old needs 30 more wins to match Don Shula’s career win total of 328. He is also 18 wins behind Shula when counting both the regular season and playoff wins.
Jerod Mayo was the Patriots’ first-round selection in 2008 and spent his entire career with the franchise before retiring in 2015. He helped New England win Super Bowl XLIX while earning two Pro Bowl nods and one First-Team All-Pro selection in 2010.
