Former Tennessee Vols standout named as a head coaching candidate for Carolina Panthers
Former Tennessee Vols standout Jerod Mayo has been named by several media outlets as a potential candidate to replace Frank Reich as the Carolina Panthers' head coach. Carolina fired Reich on Monday after a 1-10 start to the season. It was the second straight November that Reich has been fired as an NFL head coach […]
Former Tennessee Vols standout Jerod Mayo has been named by several media outlets as a potential candidate to replace Frank Reich as the Carolina Panthers' head coach.
Carolina fired Reich on Monday after a 1-10 start to the season. It was the second straight November that Reich has been fired as an NFL head coach (the Indianapolis Colts fired Reich in 2022).
Mayo, a former first round draft pick, currently serves as the inside linebackers coach for the New England Patriots. He's viewed by many as the potential heir to Bill Belichick in New England.
While Mayo will be a hot head coaching candidate this offseason for several teams, it seems unlikely that he'll get involved in the Panthers' coaching search.
For starters, Mayo turned down an opportunity to interview with Carolina last offseason.
And since turning down that interview, the Panthers' situation has quickly worsened.
Carolina has one of the worst rosters in the NFL. And because of an ill-advised trade with the Chicago Bears earlier this year, which netted the team the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (which was used to select Bryce Young, an undersized quarterback), the Panthers don't have a first round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft (for now, it looks like their pick, which the Bears still own, will be the No. 1 overall pick).
Mayo is eventually going to be a head coach. His reputation as a leader is excellent. But it's hard to see anyone finding success in Carolina right now. Mayo would be wise to send the Panthers' call to voicemail.
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