Former Patriots defender explains how Jerod Mayo will be different than Bill Belichick
News broke on Friday morning that former Tennessee Vols linebacker Jerod Mayo will replace Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots' head coach. Mayo, who has been a linebackers coach for the Patriots since 2019, has long been viewed as a potential successor to Belichick in New England. The former Vol turned down head coaching […]
News broke on Friday morning that former Tennessee Vols linebacker Jerod Mayo will replace Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots' head coach.
Mayo, who has been a linebackers coach for the Patriots since 2019, has long been viewed as a potential successor to Belichick in New England.
The former Vol turned down head coaching interview requests last offseason to stay in New England.
Mayo has been with the organization (except for a brief departure from football after his playing career was over) since his rookie season in 2008. "The Patriot Way" is all he knows as a professional. Which leads to the question: "Will Mayo just try to be another Belichick?"
According to former Patriots defensive back Jason McCourty, the answer is no.
McCourty, who was in New England as a player for two seasons while Mayo was an assistant coach, made some comments on "Good Morning Football" on Friday morning that suggests that Mayo will bring a much different vibe to the Patriots than what the franchise experienced under Belichick.
"I'm excited for Jerod Mayo and this opportunity he has," said McCourty. "He came into coaching while I was there in 2019 in New England as our linebackers coach. And right away, as soon as he walked in that building, you get a different vibe and a different energy that he brings to the table each and every day. I'm excited for his personality to take over. Because, for the last 24 years, Bill Belichick, as great as he's been, he's totally different than Mayo. [Belichick is] dry…Mayo is a more vibrant, up-beat type of guy. So I'm excited to see how the guys react to it and the direction that this organization goes."
"For the last three years, he's watched everything that's transpired and seen them missing the playoffs," added McCourty. "He's going to want to make changes in that building. He's not going to take over for Bill and just keep everything the same."
Mayo might be a Belichick disciple, but it sounds like he won't be a Belichick clone in his new role as the New England head coach.
Patriots’ Jerod Mayo squashes recent attempt to assassinate his character
He didn’t hold back.
