Plans for Bill Belichick's eventual replacement are in motion.
While addressing the renowned coach's exit at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, Belichick and club owner Robert Kraft revealed that the New England Patriots have parted company with Belichick as their head coach.
What will happen in New England after this? As Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston states, Jerod Mayo "remains the favorite" to succeed Bill Belichick as head coach of the New England Patriots' defense
NBC Sports Tom E. Curran of Boston also said on Thursday that he thinks Mayo would replace Bill Belichick in New England.
On NBC Sports Boston, Curran stated, "The indications I've gotten (are) that Jerod Mayo will be the successor to Bill (Belichick)".
Mayo was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, tenth overall. Throughout his eight-year playing career, he was a leader on defense, helping the team win a Super Bowl and earning two Pro Bowl honors.
Starting off as an inside linebackers coach with the Patriots in 2019, Mayo quickly rose through the ranks to become a leader on defense and now shares play-calling responsibilities with assistant Steve Belichick. Although he was being courted by other clubs as a head coach, the Patriots decided to keep Mayo in Foxboro in January 2023 by announcing intentions to extend his contract. Kraft called Mayo Belichick's "heir apparent" in March 2023.
Mike Vrabel, who was sacked as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, is an interesting prospect that the Patriots would formally consider as they hunt for a new head coach. For the time being, though, it seems like Mayo is taking the lead in the locker room to replace a coaching icon.