New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement Sunday night regarding the firing of Jerod Mayo, believing it was the right decision after just one season at the helm.
Now, Kraft is focused solely on moving forward quickly with another head coaching search after he and Bill Belichick parted ways ahead of the 2024 season.
However, before discussing the plan this time, Kraft took the blame after another 4-13 campaign.
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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft during warmups for the Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“This whole situation is on me,” Kraft told reporters Monday via ESPN. “I feel really bad for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation. I know he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before accepting the job.
“In the end, I’m a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach that can get us back to the playoffs and, hopefully, the championship.”
Teams are already making calls to potential head coaching candidates and the Patriots aren’t wasting any time either.
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New England has contacted the Detroit Lions about a formal request to interview star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. And, of course, Kraft was asked about Mike Vrabel, another former player of his who has much more experience as an NFL head coach than Mayo, who was coaching a team for the first time.
“There are some wonderful people we’ve heard about,” Kraft responded when asked about Vrabel, who was most recently head coach of the Tennessee Titans before his firing after the 2023 season. “I’d rather answer that after we’ve “I’ve seen everyone. We want to interview as many people as we can who we think can help us get to the position we want to be in.”
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks at the scoreboard during the Buffalo Bills game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on December 22, 2024. (Images by Mark Konezny-Imagn)
As for the process, Kraft’s son Jonathan, who serves as team president, will be involved, as will senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Kraft’s management will also remain the same during this coaching transition.
Mayo’s final game as head coach had implications for the NFL Draft on Sunday, as Joe Milton III’s decisive game against the Buffalo Bills caused the Patriots to lose the No. 1 overall pick. Now, they will pick fourth overall in April.
But Kraft didn’t seem bothered that Mayo led the Patriots to a season-ending victory, as he said the former New England linebacker was informed of the decision after the game.
“In the end, I’m a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and, hopefully, the championship.” Robert Kraft said. (Brian Fluharty-USA Today Sports)
“He was a man,” Kraft said of Mayo’s reaction to the firing. “Look, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life because I was very fond of him. And I believe in him. I really believe that as he gains more experience, he will be successful. He was a gentleman and he accepted it that way.” .
