Robert Kraft’s Swift Search for a New Patriots Head Coach Amid Mayo’s Departure
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are on the hunt for a new head coach, and owner Robert Kraft is wasting no time in his search. The decision comes on the heels of the team’s choice to fire Jerod Mayo after just one season at the helm. Kraft, who has been a pivotal figure in the Patriots’ success over the years, expressed his regret over the situation, stating, “This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation. I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job.”
It’s clear that Kraft’s passion for the team runs deep, as he emphasized, “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 championships.” The Patriots, who ended the season with a 4-13 record under Mayo, are already making moves to find his successor. According to a source, they have submitted a request to speak with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
At 83, Kraft is still very much involved in the team’s operations and was asked about the possibility of former Patriots linebacker and former Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel being a top candidate. Kraft responded, “There are some wonderful people that we’ve heard about. I’d rather respond to that after I’ve seen everyone. We want to interview as many people as we can that we think can help us get to that position that we want to be in.”
The search for a new head coach will be a collaborative effort, with Kraft’s son, team president Jonathan Kraft, senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf all playing key roles in the interview process. Kraft noted that Highsmith and Wolf “will be staying on” as the Patriots are “looking for people working together.” However, he also acknowledged that the hiring of a new coach could potentially alter internal dynamics, as the coach will “obviously have big input on who the players are, and who the coaches are — it will be his decision.”
The decision to part ways with Mayo was not an easy one for Kraft, who admitted he “went back and forth” over the past month. He described a Week 1 win at Cincinnati as his high point of the season, but noted that “midseason, I think we started to regress.” Kraft didn’t inform Mayo of his decision until after Sunday’s season finale, when the Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-16, a result that moved them from the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft to the No. 4 spot.
Reflecting on his conversation with Mayo, Kraft said, “He was a man. Look, it was one of the more difficult things I’ve had to do in my life because I had such affection for him. And I believe in him. I really do believe as he gets more experience, he’ll be successful. He was a gentleman and accepted it that way.”
Kraft also acknowledged that the negative fan reaction in recent weeks, which included chants in the team’s home stadium to fire Mayo, played a role in his decision. “We don’t own this team; it’s owned by the fans of this region,” Kraft said. “We’re custodians of a very special asset of the community. That helps me try to make decisions. That if it was just personal, it would be different.”
- Robert Kraft is determined to find a new head coach quickly.
- Jerod Mayo was fired after a 4-13 season.
- The Patriots have requested to speak with Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
- Kraft’s son, Jonathan, and other executives will be involved in the hiring process.
- Fan reactions influenced Kraft’s decision to fire Mayo.
Originally Written by: Mike Reiss
