Former Patriots linebacker selected to succeed Bill Belichick as the new head coach of the New England Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. In a swift move following the departure of iconic coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have officially appointed Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, marking the 15th in franchise history. The announcement was made on Friday, and Mayo, at 37, will become the youngest head coach in the NFL, narrowly surpassing Sean McVay’s age when he assumed the role with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.

A former Patriots linebacker from 2008 to 2015, Mayo was selected in the first round of the draft by the University of Tennessee. He transitioned to coaching under Belichick’s guidance in 2019, serving as the linebackers coach. The Patriots were able to expedite Mayo’s hiring due to a succession plan outlined in the contract extension he signed the previous offseason, a strategy similar to the Baltimore Ravens’ approach when Eric DeCosta succeeded Ozzie Newsome as general manager in 2019.

Mayo’s appointment is historic, as he becomes the first black head coach in Patriots history. He garnered strong support from players, particularly on the defensive side. One defender expressed hope for Mayo to take over, citing his deserving nature. Captain Deatrich Wise Jr. attributed the defense’s success against Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a Week 17 loss to Mayo’s coaching.

During his playing career in New England, Mayo, named team captain in his second season, earned the nickname “Bill Jr.” for his perceived coaching potential. After Belichick’s departure, Mayo’s candidacy gained momentum, and his coaching style, built on relationships and a foundation of love, was highlighted.

Mayo, who retired in 2015 after a successful playing career that included 103 games and 905 tackles, spent time in the finance sector with Optum before transitioning to coaching. He attributes his coaching readiness to both his finance experience and the valuable lessons learned under Belichick.

Expressing his preparedness for the role, Mayo stated, “I feel like I can talk to men, women, old, young, white, black—it doesn’t matter. And hopefully develop those people into upstanding citizens and help them evolve. That’s how I think about it. I feel like my calling is to develop.”

As he steps into the head coaching position, Mayo emphasizes the importance of building relationships with players and coaching with love, acknowledging the generational shift in player expectations and the need to provide explanations for coaching decisions.