NFL
By Steve Atkinson
Following the 2023 season, Robert Kraft was determined to hire Jerod Mayo as the next head coach. Kraft had wanted Mayo in this role since 2019, after seeing his leadership during a mission trip. However, Kraft didn’t realize the extent of the damage done within the organization, which had been hidden by Tom Brady’s ability to cover up poor drafts and the authoritarian style of Bill Belichick. This damage only became apparent after Brady left and won the Super Bowl in Tampa.
Not Having Direction Hurt Jerod Mayo
Belichick had the final say on everything, which Mayo would not have. He would need support, but Belichick had undermined the staff by promoting his friends and family. Mayo believed he could simply plug in new people who had never been given a chance, thinking it would improve the situation.
Mayo needed a general manager, which would be Eliot Wolf’s first time in that role. Wolf would then hire the coaches and assistants around Mayo. He brought in Alex Van Pelt, a first-time play caller, to run the offense, along with first-time coaches for the offensive line and wide receivers. Every single position on the Patriots’ staff featured someone without prior experience in that role. Given that one person had been in control for 20 years, hiring more experienced assistants around a first-year head coach was essential, especially with the team drafting third overall to select their next franchise quarterback.
Robert Kraft New Jerod Mayo Wasn’t Ready
There were multiple ways to handle this situation effectively, but Belichick left the organization in disarray with no clear direction. Ownership should have surrounded Mayo with a more veteran staff on both offense and defense. Instead, they promoted DeMarcus Covington, who wasn’t prepared and had Dont’a Hightower serve as a linebackers coach. They should have at least brought in a veteran defensive mind, but not Steve Belichick, as his father was already calling the plays. The Kraft family and Mayo chose to give opportunities to the existing staff, which clearly did not work.
Jerod Mayo firing was premature
Was firing Mayo premature? Absolutely. I would have given him another season with a more experienced staff supporting him. While reports indicated he was in over his head, he likely wouldn’t have been if he had experienced assistants. That’s why I would have fired the coaches around Mayo and brought in more seasoned assistants to support him.
From Mayo to Vrabel?
However, the Kraft family has decided to fire Mayo and pursue Mike Vrabel, who is unlikely to retain any of the current assistant coaches or even Eliot Wolf. He will want his own team in place. The Krafts previously conducted two sham interviews to meet the Rooney Rule requirements, but it is clear who they really want: someone with whom they have familiarity. They have that with Vrabel, as he has experience as a head coach.
That said, I do not want Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. The team should stick to the West Coast offense they just implemented. Are they planning for rookie Drake Maye to learn a completely new system? That would waste a rookie season. Bringing in McDaniels, whose offense is outdated by twenty years, is not the solution. I want someone with experience who can effectively run the West Coast offense they just established. They should consider hiring Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator and pay him comparably to what they paid McDaniels. I really don’t care how they do it, but they need to avoid hiring Josh McDaniels.
