This season has not gone the way the New England Patriots expected. That's no secret. And because of that, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo has taken all the blame. So much so, that many are already calling for his job despite the 2024 season not being over. 

On Saturday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Jerod Mayo will return for a second season, though. And on Wednesday, the topic was brought up during the Patriots head coach's press conference. 

“I’m not sure where that story came from,” Mayo said. “I have multiple conversations on a daily basis with ownership and they’ve always been supportive.”

However, the Patriots' performance against the Arizona Cardinals can simply be described as embarrassing. With only three games remaining, if the team plays the same way they did as this past week, many wonder if the Krafts will rethink the plan to give Mayo a second year. 

Nonetheless, if you talk to any player in the Patriots locker room, their opinion is very clear.

"I think people should stop coming after my guy, for real," defensive tackle Christian Barmore told A to Z Sports. "He's a great coach. I don't care what they're talking about. He's a great coach. We're going to be fine. He's going to be fine." 

The year has not been easy for Barmore, who was sidelined due to blood clots. But Mayo was there for the star defender every step of the way. 

"He supported me every day. He called my phone," Barmore added. "He really was going to come to the hospital." 

It's these things that happen behind the scenes that truly show someone's character. While others in the locker room haven't gone through an experience as extreme, they all feel the same way about these rumors surrounding Mayo's job security. 

"Everybody always got something to say. Especially when things don't go the way people want them to go, and that's just childish," backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. "That's the stupidest thing out there that I probably could ever hear."

And that's coming from a player who could be upset at the coaching staff due to his situation this season, losing the starting job to Drake Maye. Instead, he stood up for Mayo.

Examples of improvement

Defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. pointed out that Mayo has all the qualities to be a very talented coach in this league. 

"I think his leadership is actually, in my opinion, is one of the best I've seen because of the situations that we're in now," the defender mentioned. "He still has the ability to raise his leadership even higher. So that's pretty impressive."

Wise went on to point out an example about another coach in the NFL that had a similar situation his first season: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

"This is his first year. I feel like there's a lot of coaches where their first year is not that good, and they go on to do great, great, great things," Wise said.

In his first season, Campbell's Lions finished with a 3-13-1 record. The following year, they were 9-8. It improved to 12-5 and an NFC Championship Game appearance in 2023. This season, they are 12-2, already having clinched a spot in the playoffs.

"We need to see how he improves year to year. He's doing a great job. Always brings the high energy, always does a good job of coaching guys while critiquing them and motivating them at the same time," Wise added. "So he always does a wonderful job with the players. I think he's doing a solid job. Yes, we want to have more wins, that's obvious, but at the same time, what he is doing, I think will work out in the future."

The Year 1 to Year 2 jump is often referenced regarding players, but it applies for coaches as well.

"He's been a good coach. To me, this is his first year being a head coach, so there's going to be ups and downs, but I think he's been a pretty good head coach to be honest," Keion White stated. "I know he's going to figure some things out, probably change some things going into next year."

Every player supports the head coach. 

"I know I'm behind Mayo. I believe everybody in this locker room is behind Mayo. I mean, it's his first year. You can't expect him to just come out and win all the games," star cornerback Christian Gonzalez explained. "I'm riding behind him and I believe everybody in this locker room is too."

The most important piece

When the locker room is a topic of conversation, the starting quarterback's perception is extremely relevant. And you can count rookie quarterback Drake Maye in Mayo's camp, which is particularly valuable considering Maye is the best factor for the Patriots' season. 

Every since Maye was named the starter, all the talk has been about his talent and how the future is bright in New England. So shouldn't his opinion on this subject matter? 

"Yeah, it's his first year. His first year coaching, being a head coach. It's a tough challenge. For the New England Patriots, like I said, it's a lot of responsibility being the quarterback, same as head coach. It's a lot of responsibility. He's figuring it out, and I think our players, we're behind him. We're backing him," Maye told reporters. "We trust the plan he's got for us, and we trust what he says in the team meeting rooms and all those little sayings that he has. 

"We believe in it, and we're bought into it. I just think the results are coming. I think they're coming. I think everybody wishes they were now, and I think we're kind of striving for that. But sometimes, it doesn't work out that way. But I think we're overcoming, and the winning is coming in the near future."

A former player

Plus, there is one specific added bonus that comes with having Mayo as a head coach: his playing experience. He was a Patriots' linebacker from 2008 to 2015.

"With Coach Mayo’s coaching style, it's been player-friendly, and I appreciate what he's done for still kind of bringing me aside and kind of coaching the quarterback," the rookie added. "I think that's pretty cool for a head coach to do, especially a defensive head coach. So, that's been cool for me."

Many of these players don't listen or focus on the outside noise. So hearing these things can come as a surprise. But they don't hesitate to stand up for one another in crucial moments. 

"Everyone has opinions, and what I say about someone's not going to change someone else's opinion of another person. So for that, I'm going to keep my opinions to myself, but they are positive opinions and and I want that to be reflected," Baringer said. "I have nothing but positives."

Vederian Lowe's comments echoed all of his teammates' sentiments. 

"I don't know why there's any chatter about it. Coach Mayo is a great coach. He's done a great job. The players, we all love him. We love playing for him," he said. "It's been great. He's a former player so he knows the struggles that we go through, just individually, and he's able to relate. And I feel like me and a lot of other guys, we like that a lot from him."

Patience is not something NFL fans like to hear, but it's what needs to be said in this moment.

"I like Jerod. I think it's going to take time. So, I'm kind of one of those guys, I understand it's a process. So, just giving them time, building relationships with the players. He has to grow with us, so it takes time," Kendrick Bourne declared. "He's a player, so he understands we aren't going to win every game. It's not going to happen overnight. So, he's been a part of a winning culture too, so he knows that it takes time to build a culture and a team?

Is Bourne confident that Mayo can do this?

"Absolutely."

Based on all these answers, one thing is abundantly clear: the players don't want the organization to get rid of Jerod Mayo after only one season.