Patriots pick Mayo to replace Belichick as coach

The New England Patriots are hiring Jerod Mayo as their new head coach following Bill Belichick's departure, the team announced Friday.

Mayo will be formally introduced at a press conference on Jan. 17 at noon.

New England didn't have to undergo a formal interviewing process to promote its linebackers coach because it reportedly established a contractual succession plan with Mayo in a prior contract and communicated it to the NFL.

Despite Patriots legend Mike Vrabel becoming available following his shock firing from the Tennessee Titans, the plan was always to hire Mayo, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

New England will also hire a new general manager, a role Belichick also handled, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Patriots and Belichick mutually agreed to part ways Thursday following 24 seasons.

The 37-year-old Mayo - who becomes the NFL's youngest head coach, replacing the Los Angeles Rams' Sean McVay - spent his entire eight-year NFL career playing for New England after being drafted in the first round in 2008.

He won one Super Bowl during the 2014 season, earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2010. Mayo joined the Patriots' coaching staff as an assistant in 2019.

Mayo received head coaching interest in each of the last two offseasons but remained with the AFC East club amid speculation he was its preferred candidate to take over from Belichick. He also turned down an offer to become the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator in 2022.

The Patriots slumped to a 4-13 record in 2023 - the worst of Belichick's tenure - leading to a split with the six-time Super Bowl-winning bench boss, who reportedly intends to continue coaching.