Patriots' Robert Kraft Says He Put Jerod Mayo in 'Untenable Situation' as HC

Robert Kraft is taking responsibility for head coach Jerod Mayo's struggles in the 2024 season.

The Patriots fired Mayo shortly after the team's Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills. New England finished 4-13 for the second consecutive season. It was Mayo's first and only season as the head coach and it came after his highest coaching position had been the inside linebackers coach.

Kraft addressed the media for the first time since the firing on Monday and said that he had put Mayo in "an untenable situation." and that "the whole situation is on me."

Kraft also said that Eliot Wolf, the team's executive vice president of player personnel, and the rest of the front office staff will remain with the team. He also called firing Mayo "the hardest decision I've ever had to make."

Despite retaining the front office staff, Kraft acknowledged that the team's drafts "have not been good for a while" and that he believes they will see improvement under Wolf's grading system.

Wolf has been with New England since 2020 and has been the "de facto" general manager since the team parted ways with Bill Belichick after the 2023 season.

The Patriots 2024 season saw promising play from rookie quarterback Drake Maye but little else to be excited about. The defense regressed from 7th in total defense in 2023 to 22nd this season while the offense ranked 31st despite Maye flashing his potential.

Kraft had reportedly not been considering firing Mayo unless of a "calamity," and the Patriots' end to the season could be described as that. Following the team's Week 14 bye, New England had lackluster efforts against the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, blew a 14-point lead to the Bills and then only defeated Buffalo when the opponent sat key players ahead of the postseason.

The victory also meant that the Patriots dropped to the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. A loss would have secured the No. 1 pick in the draft, which the team could have potentially used to accumulate more draft capital and fix the numerous holes on the roster.

The Patriots will enter the 2025 offseason with a promising quarterback, a new head coach and $131 million in cap space. Some coaches who have been linked to the position include former Patriots star Mike Vrabel, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Liam Coen and former Seattle Seahawks and Patriots coach Pete Carroll.