Shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL regular season, the New England Patriots made the controversial decision to fire Jerod Mayo as the franchise's head coach. 

Mayo, who replaced Bill Belichick in New England following the 2023 season, was let go after just one season as the Patriots' head coach. 

The former Tennessee Vols linebacker, who spent his entire pro career in New England before becoming the franchise's head coach (as a player and as a coach), struggled at times in 2024 during a 4-13 season. Those struggles, however, are something that almost all first-time head coaches go through. 

It certainly didn't help that Mayo had a below-average roster to work with, which is why it was quite surprising that he was fired after just one season. 

Of course, the main reason that Mayo was fired didn't have as much as to do with the Patriots' belief in him to turn things around as it did with the fact that Mike Vrabel, a former New England player, was available. 

Patriots owner Robert Kraft seemingly liked the idea of Vrabel better than the idea of Mayo, so he fired Mayo after just one season. 

New England All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez said on the Frat Rules Podcast recently that he thought the Patriots did Mayo "a little dirty" by firing him after just one season. 

"I think they did him a little dirty giving him only one year," said Gonzalez. "But, yeah, that's business."

Christian Gonzalez on the #Patriots’ coaching changes:

“I did [like Jerod Mayo as a coach]. I did. I think they did him a little dirty giving him only one year. But, it’s business… We gon’ see what [Mike Vrabel] do… They damn near cleaned house.”

(? Frat Rules Podcast) pic.twitter.com/2SwkxBBVFx

— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) February 19, 2025

Kraft has to make the decisions that he thinks are best for the franchise. And he clearly thinks that Vrabel, who was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, is a better option for the Patriots than Mayo. 

We'll see in the coming years if that was the right move. 

But even if it proves to be a decision that brings success to New England, it's hard not to feel bad for Mayo. He simply never got a chance to prove that he can be a longterm successful head coach in the NFL thanks to Kraft's quick trigger finger. 

Maybe Mayo gets another chance down the road. But after the way things went in New England, he's going to have to find a way to prove himself all over again (this time outside of the Patriots' organization) before he gets another chance. 

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