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On Thursday, the world learned the Patriots decided to part ways with Bill Belichick, and the team apparently only needed around a day to determine who will be filling the void that formed in Foxborough as a result.
At one point, it was hard to imagine a world where Bill Belichick would leave the New England Patriots without going out on his own terms. The head coach helmed one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history, and while everyone knew the good times had to come to an end at some point, it seemed like that moment would never arrive.
There were plenty of people out there who argued Belichick could credit the bulk of his success to Tom Brady, and that theory was put to the test when the legendary quarterback decided to take his talents to Tampa Bay.
Based on what unfolded from there, it’s pretty hard to deny people in that camp didn’t have a point, and the QB’s absence became increasingly hard to ignore as the Patriots tried (and failed) to sustain their success over the past few seasons.
Most signs pointed to the Patriots deciding to move on from Belichick following the conclusion of the most brutal season of his career, which ended up being the case. The head coach left some massive shoes to fill, and according to Adam Schefter, New England has decided to give Jerod Mayo the chance to fill them by hiring him as the new head coach.
It’s a new era in New England: the Patriots have hired Jerod Mayo as their next head coach and he will be formally introduced at a press conference next week, a source tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/SeHKoAonrP
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2024
Mayo spent eight seasons playing linebacker for the Patriots before taking a job coaching that position for the team in 2019.
He was floated as the top candidate to succeed Belichick over the course of the regular season, and pending an unexpected development, those rumors will be confirmed when the team officially introduces the 37-year-old at some point next week.