Jerod Mayo Reveals Who's Calling the Shots on Coaching Hires

Unlike his predecessor, Jerod Mayo is showing no signs of shying away from bluntness. This was glaring in his introductory press conference last week, as well as his forwardness when discussing the team's approach to the third overall pick.

The New England Patriots head coach continued his transparency tour on Monday, providing some insight into the decision-making process as he continues to construct his first coaching staff in New England.

Per Mayo himself, he is running the show as he works to surround himself with quality assistants, although he did continue on to add that director of player personnel Matt Groh and director of scouting Eliot Wolf would be providing support in the process.

Mayo's comments come on the heels of reporting last week that the team is not expected to bring in a new general manager, and that the aforementioned Groh and Wolf would have "prominent roles in personnel." For the time being, it seems that those three are calling the shots in Foxborough.

Following offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien's departure for Ohio State, that position is officially vacant. Mayo has a pair of offensive coordinator interviews lined up for the beginning of this week.

On Monday, the new Patriots head coach will interview Los Angeles Rams' tight ends coach and former Patriots assistant, Nick Caley. On Tuesday, Rams passing game coordinator Zac Robinson will meet with Mayo to interview for the same position.

Prior to O'Brien's departure, Mayo's primary focus had been on the defensive and special teams units. Mike Reiss of ESPN provided a comprehensive list of Mayo's interviews:

"Mayo's initial assistant coaching interviews have been more on defense and special teams. As of Friday night, sources confirmed he had video-conferenced with Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker, Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges, Panthers outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu, Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams and former Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, and there are plans to interview Rams assistant special teams coach Jeremy Springer and Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington (likely in person)."

- Mike Reiss of ESPN

Per Reiss, current New England defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington is "well-positioned to elevate to a defensive coordinator role." Mike Giardi and Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal confirmed Covington as the leading candidate as well. No Patriots assistant has officially held the title of defensive coordinator since Matt Patricia in 2017.

As Mayo's tenure plays out, it will be interesting to see if his autonomy in the building mirrors that of Bill Belichick during his his time in New England, or if a more collaborative approach is truly in the fold. As the team's head coach and de facto general manager, Belichick enjoyed relative unchecked power in Foxborough during his 24-year reign.

Based on how the first few days of the Jerod Mayo era have gone, he might be the first one to tell us.

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