10 Patriots Playing Their Way Out of New England's 2025 Plans

7. Jerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo isn't likely to be fired after one season. Owner Robert Kraft has said that he picked Mayo as Bill Belichick's successor back five years ago, and pushing the panic button after only one season would be an admission on ownership's part that their succession plan crashed and burned – something that the Krafts might not be willing to acknowledge.

Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal reported last week that Mayo isn't "assured of a second season" if the Patriots continue on their 2-6 track, even revealing that the second-guessing of the hiring came as early as last summer – Mayo's first in charge.

"I’ll tell you it’s my opinion from talking to people that I don’t think Jerod Mayo is assured of a second season if this is a complete dumpster fire. Now I don’t think that’s likely, but considering where we are in week seven, they are weeks away from even a bye week trying to reset, not that that’s going to do any good with this coaching staff, everybody’s probably just going to go on vacation and then come back and play out the string,.. If this is the way the rest of the season is going to go, a lot of people are going to get fired."

- Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal

Kraft speaks of Mayo with such admiration and has pushed his full confidence behind the former Patriots linebacker, but as the owner ages and continues to make a push for a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, does he keep Mayo on a far shorter leash in pursuit of winning?

After the Patriots maintained one head coach for 24 seasons, three head coaches in three seasons would certainly be quite the development. With a relatively talent-deprived roster, it feels like a stretch to suggest that Mayo will be one-and-done, but those conversations will undoubtedly be held within the walls of One Patriot Place.