Report: Robert Kraft Was Questioned About Jerod Mayo Firing in Final Patriots Meeting

The New England Patriots fired former head coach Jerod Mayo just hours after their season-ending victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which reportedly led to questions about the timing of the entire process.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Sunday that some coaches and players were surprised when Mayo was fired considering "many were still at the facility with family members."

Team sources told Reiss that some questioned owner Robert Kraft about it during the Patriots' final meeting of the campaign.

Kraft released a statement at the time of the firing, calling it "one of the hardest decisions I have ever made" while praising Mayo for "his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community."

While Mayo had just one season as head coach, he has been with the Patriots for many years.

He played linebacker for eight seasons from 2008 to 2015 while building a resume that included a Super Bowl title, Defensive Rookie of the Year and two Pro Bowl selections. He was also a linebackers coach for the franchise from 2019 through 2023.

Mayo's first and only season as the head coach was a disappointing one at 4-13, but some may have thought he deserved more than just one year to turn things around given his history with the franchise and starting point with a team that also went 4-13 during the 2023 campaign before he took over.

Alas, the Patriots are now searching for a new head coach with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reporting Saturday that Mike Vrabel is the favorite:

Vrabel would be another former Patriots player with a defensive background taking over as head coach, although he will look for more immediate success than Mayo enjoyed in 2024.