It didn’t take long for the New England Patriots to fill their head coaching vacancy. Just over 24 hours after parting ways with Bill Belichick, ESPN reported Friday morning that linebackers coach and de facto co-defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo will step into the role, making him the 15th head coach in franchise history.
Mayo’s hire was foreshadowed heavily on Thursday evening. It was reported that the team could hire him without having to go through the usual league-mandated hiring process, due to a clause in his contract setting him up as the successor to Belichick.
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Some of that speculation even went back to last year, when the Patriots announced a surprise contract extension for Mayo as he took himself out of the running for coaching jobs around the league. At 37 years old, Mayo is now the youngest active head coach in the NFL.
Mayo takes over the role after spending the last five years as a linebackers coach for the Patriots. During that time he also held some of the responsibilities of a defensive coordinator, splitting that role with co-linebackers coach Steve Belichick.
Before joining the Patriots’ coaching staff, Mayo was a first-round pick by the team in 2008. He played eight seasons in New England including the 2014 Super Bowl championship year, winning Rookie of the Year in 2008 and getting an All-Pro nod in 2010 when he led the NFL in tackles. He was named to the Patriots’ All-2010s team.
