Jerod Mayo wishes Bill Belichick well at UNC, doesn’t expect to lose any Patriots assistants
"He's a good coach. He should be coaching."
Jerod Mayo is glad to see his former boss and predecessor back in the coaching game.
The Patriots head coach congratulated Bill Belichick a day after he was officially introduced as North Carolina’s next head coach.
“Happy for him,” Mayo told reporters on Friday. “He’s a good coach. He should be coaching. I’m sure he’s going to do a good job out there. Wish him nothing but the best.”
The move sent some shockwaves throughout the football world as Belichick has never held an official coaching position in college. But in between the time it was first reported that Belichick was talking with the school and his hiring, Mayo told WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” that he could see his former coach succeed at the college level.
“To me, it doesn’t matter if you’re a young man or a 10-year vet in the league, he’s a great teacher,” Mayo said on Monday. “I wish him nothing but the best. It doesn’t really matter what level, I think he’ll be successful.”
Now that Belichick is settling in at Chapel Hill, his next step is to fill out his staff. He’s already hired one former Patriots executive to join him, tabbing Mike Lombardi to be UNC’s general manager.
As Belichick looks to make several hires over the next few weeks, it’s easy to wonder if he’ll hire any of his former assistants in New England to join him. Mayo isn’t expecting any current Patriots staffer to follow Belichick to Chapel Hill, but he wasn’t entirely certain.
“Well, my anticipation is that we will have all of our coaches, so I’m not sure,” Mayo said. “But again, it could change. I mean, I don’t know.”
There aren’t many remnants from Belichick’s coaching staff still in Foxborough. Seven members of Mayo’s staff coached under Belichick while three others played for him.
One of those assistants, though, is Belichick’s son, Brian. Mayo was specifically asked if there was any concern of losing Brian Belichick to North Carolina on Friday.
“I don’t want to get into that,” Mayo responded. “That’s a question for him. Did you ask him yesterday?”
Brian Belichick was, in fact, asked that on Thursday. He gave an answer that resembled what his father likely would’ve said when asked that question.
“Personally, I have my hands full today, getting ready for practice out there on the field,” Belichick told reporters. “It’s an especially big day for us because we’re leaving tomorrow. A lot to get straight. Like every week in the NFL.
“We have our hands full here. My focus is going to Arizona and getting a win.”
When it was relayed to Mayo that the younger Belichick said he was focused on Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, he had a bit of fun.
“Alright, so why are you trying to trip me up? No, I’m just playing. I’m just playing,” Mayo jokingly responded.
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