3 Jerod Mayo Replacements Patriots Must Consider After Terrible 2024 Season

If the Patriots move on from Jerod Mayo after one year, here are a few head coaching candidates they should consider.
Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo talks with an official from the sideline as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium.
Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo talks with an official from the sideline as they take on the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium. / David Butler II-Imagn Images
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Update: Jerod Mayo was reportedly relieved of his duties following the Week 18 over the Bills. What follows is the original piece prior to his firing.

The 2024 season has been less than ideal for the New England Patriots, who turned the keys to the franchise over to first-time head coach Jerod Mayo. Mayo had some big shoes to fill, taking over for Bill Belichick, who won Super Bowls in New England.

That said, Patriots owner Robert Kraft wasn’t expecting Mayo to turn New England into a Super Bowl contender overnight. However, Kraft likely expected his team to be more competitive than they have been this season (4-13).

With that in mind, the fanbase hasn’t been too happy with Mayo’s performance as head coach and is open to someone else leading the team. 

On Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter noted a "shift" within the organization that could lead to Mayo's exit. The NFL insider mentioned how the team has struggled, lost at home, and the fan base isn’t happy over the last 30 days.

Based on that latest intel from Schefter, New England’s brass should be prepared to interview several head coaching candidates. Below, we’ll highlight a few candidates the Pats should bring in if Mayo’s time is done.

1. Mike Vrabel

If Mayo’s time in New England is over after one year, the obvious replacement is Mike Vrabel. Vrabel is beloved in New England based on his eight years with the organization as he helped the team win three Super Bowls.

After his playing career finished, the former Patriots linebacker went into coaching, starting with his alma mater (Ohio State). He ultimately worked his way back to the NFL after three years at Ohio State.

Vrabel was a linebackers coach/defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans for four years and then spent six years as the Tennessee Titans head coach. Last season, the Titans fired Vrabel after a 6-11 campaign.

However, the former Pats defender wasn’t out of the game for long. This season, Vrabel was a coaching consultant for the Cleveland Browns.

That said, Vrabel is one of the bigger names on the coaching carousel and is already being mentioned for other potential jobs across the league. Would Vrabel consider returning to New Orleans, instead of coaching in Chicago or New Orleans? 

That would be an interesting scenario to see play out as wherever Vrabel goes, he knows how to run his program and establish culture. The Patriots could use that after how this season has gone on both sides of the ball.