New England Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo

The New England Patriots have fired head coach Jerod Mayo after just one year, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Patriots are coming off a season in which they finished just 4-13.

Schefter had reported earlier in the day on Sunday that Mayo was on shaky ground, despite some public backing by owner Robert Kraft in recent weeks.

“He’s had the backing of Robert Kraft for weeks, but over the last 30 days, there have been some public gaffes,” Schefter said during SportsCenter on Sunday morning. “There’s been poor performance on the field.

“There’s been anger and apathy from the fan base, and I think that is reflected and I think they’re going to want to see how today finishes out before making a decision. I think that’s very much up in the air right now.”

That decision was made after a 23-16 win over Buffalo on Sunday. Patriots leadership explained the move after the fact in a statement released to the public.

“After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025,” Kraft wrote in the statement. “For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community.

“When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions. Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped.”

Kraft went on to further outline that he feels a pressure to be a ‘custodian’ of a public asset when it comes to the franchise. Jerod Mayo simply wasn’t delivering the necessary results.

“I am grateful for Jerod’s many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always be rooting for his success. I appreciate all his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future, as I still believe he will be a successful head coach in this league. I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future.”