5 takeaways from the Globe profile of Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo
A few things to know about the new Patriots head coach from Nicole Yang's story on him.
The Boston Globe ran a lengthy profile of Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo on Friday, detailing his rise from a high school football star who was “hollering out” opposing teams’ plays like he was in the huddle to securing his role as successor to legendary coach Bill Belichick.
The Globe’s Nicole Yang spoke with Mayo, his mother, his high school football coach, former teammates Dont’a Hightower and Devin McCourty, among others to paint a picture of why Mayo was destined to become an NFL head coach.
Mayo’s journey began in Hampton, Virginia where Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and NBA legend Allen Iverson grew up.
There was a stop in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Mayo starred at the University of Tennessee before the Patriots selected him in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Mayo spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Patriots and joined the Patriots coaching staff after he retired, but he spent time working as an executive at Boston-based healthcare company Optum in between.
Here are five takeaways on Yang’s story about Mayo’s journey.
Patriots offered Mayo a job as soon as he retired
The last player the Patriots picked in the top-10 of the NFL Draft was Mayo in 2008.
He made a pair of Pro Bowls and was a member of the 2014 Super Bowl champion team that beat the Seahawks. Mayo was also a team captain during seven of his eight seasons.
The Patriots were so impressed with Mayo that he had a coaching job offer waiting for him as soon as he retired from playing.
Mayo turned the job offer down, saying that he needed a break from football. He joked during his introductory press conference last month that he also needed a break from Belichick.
He spent a year as an “executive in residence” performing various roles with the company before his title became vice president of business development.
“I enjoyed it,” Mayo said. “I loved going out and learning about health care. I joined the board at Boston Medical Center just to get fully immersed in something I didn’t know. Health care is difficult. Football is a lot easier than health care, I’ll tell you that.”
Belichick asked Mayo’s wife to help recruit him to Patriots
Mayo joined the Patriots as a linebackers coach in 2019, three years after he turned down Belichick’s initial job offer.
This time, Belichick asked Mayo’s wife Chantel to help persuade the former linebacker to return to Foxborough.
“Three years later, Belichick called and again offered a job, this time even enlisting Mayo’s wife, Chantel, to bolster his push,” Yang wrote. “The plan was for Mayo to help fill the void created first by Brian Flores, who had accepted a head coaching position in Miami, and then by Greg Schiano, who had agreed to join Belichick’s staff before backing out a month later.”
Mayo knew everyone’s job
One of Belichick’s mantras when he coached the Patriots was “Do your job.”
Even during his high school days, Mayo was the kind of player who knew not just what he was supposed to be doing, but the responsibilities of everyone around him.
“He didn’t just understand what his role was and where he was supposed to be,” said Tommy Austin, who was Mayo’s high school football coach. “When he was out there, he knew everybody’s job on offense and defense. He watched so much film.”
Mayo, who was listed 6-foot-2, 214-pounds during his high school days, had the athletic traits that led to a four-star prospect ranking and numerous Division I offers.
His mindset also helped set him apart from the competition.
“That linebacker you got there, he was hollering all our plays like he was in the huddle!” an opposing coach told Thomas.
“That pre-snap read, the ability to know that something is coming, he’s always had that,” Thomas said. “He’s a student of the game. His ability to know, ‘This is coming. This is what they’re trying to do.’ ”
A unique ability to connect with players
Former Patriots assistant Brendan Daly, who now is a defensive line coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, said Mayo’s leadership skills always stood out.
“He’s a natural leader,” added Daly. “He has great people skills. He had a very unique ability to connect to, as a player, all the different guys in the locker room. That trait hasn’t left him. There’s an ‘it’ factor. Tom (Brady) had that characteristic in the locker room, as well.”
Former Patriots defensive back Devin McCourty echoed Daly’s sentiments, saying that it was easy to find a connection with Mayo.
“Regardless of who we’re with, he can talk to anybody about anything,” McCourty said. “Sports, finances, politics, whatever it is, he’s always had that about him.”
Mayo has ambition to bring Patriots back to the top
New England has missed the playoffs three of the last four seasons. They finished last in the AFC East in 2023.
It’s been a stunning drop-off for a franchise that won the Super Bowl five years ago.
“Mayo has plenty of work ahead as the Patriots try to readjust the trajectory of the franchise. ” Yang wrote.
Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with the franchise, is certainly a tough act to follow. Mayo’s goal is to bring the Patriots back to excellence.
“I think we can get back to where we need to be,” Mayo said. “At the top.”
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