Patriots legend Vince Wilfork says Jerod Mayo firing was a ‘set up’

Like the New England Patriots, they now have their third head coach in as many seasons (and less than 13 calendar months).

After Bill Belichick was on the sidelines for 24 seasons, the two parted ways in early 2024 and went with Jerod Mayo to replace arguably the greatest coach of all time.

However, after a 4-13 season, Kraft didn’t like what he saw, fired Mayo and hired Mike Vrabel, who was available last offseason.

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Vince Wilfork doesn’t deny that the Patriots are in a better place today than they were two weeks ago, but echoing former teammate Rob Gronkowski’s thoughts on the matter, Wilfork said Tuesday that Mayo “never had a chance” and that everything was a “preparation”.

“I think it was a foolish thing to do. And knowing Jerod personally, I know the conversations,” Wilfork told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview. “I know what it is. It’s hard to understand, but that’s the business when you deal with certain people. I think it was unfair.”

Wilfork noted that Mayo coached “the same shitty roster” that Belichick created and “stuck with.”

“So what do you think Mayo was? [going to] What about the same people Bill brought in? Mayo is the one who found the future quarterback in Drake Maye. It’s just unfortunate. But it’s part of the game, part of the business,” Wilfork said.

Wilfork spoke with Pak Gazette Digital at an event where he promoted Tums as being on the case for stopping heartburn when people gorge themselves at their Super Bowl parties. Tums and DraftKings recently partnered to give fans access to the Fantasy Foodball Pool app, where players can select their perfect game day dishes for free for a chance to win a share of cash prizes.

Jerod Mayo (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

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“Tums goes hand in hand with food, and what they were trying to do with Foodball, it’s a perfect collaboration… When you have football and DraftKings and the chance to win something, it’s still fun,” Wilfork said. “You can do this with your friends, have a good time and it’s all food-themed. Something competitive, but light. We’re talking about food. It’s a great way to bring people together. Food, sports, football, that That’s what it’s all about.”

Despite letting Mayo go, Wilfork said Vrabel is the best man to get his former Patriots “back on track.”

“I’m very happy for Vrabel. I played with Vrabel. He coached me in Houston, a good friend. I know he ticks all the boxes when it comes to leading the team. Hopefully he can get us back on track. It’s time we get on track. It’s a good person who can help us get back in the right direction, but it has a lot to do with that roster,” Wilfork said.

Wilfork played in Super Bowls with Mayo and Vrabel on the same defensive unit and considers them both good friends. Perhaps you could say it’s a strange situation for Wilfork, but he mentioned that “it’s not awkward…just facts.”

“It has nothing to do with Vrabel as a coach or as a person. I think he is phenomenal. He is the best coach I would have ever had. I just think it was unfair that Mayo went through what he went through,” he said.

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots talks with head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans before their preseason game in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 17, 2019. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

“I don’t question Vrabel’s abilities. I know he can win. He showed it with Tennessee, going to the AFC Championship in his first year. I know what a great coach Vrabel is. I don’t question it at all. I’m very happy and excited that he the Patriots have gotten Vrabel.

“I just think it’s unfair what Mayo had to go through. He didn’t have a chance. It was stupid from the beginning, and there’s a lot of backstabbing… We’ll see what happens. It’s all part of the game, I guess, but it’s unfair however you look at it. He never had a chance.”