Jerod Mayo as head coach of the Patriots was a nice approach, but it turned out to be the wrong one. Therefore, the Patriots should not hesitate to correct the mistake. A commentary.

The move was actually logical.

Because the story was beautiful, almost romantic. With a lot of feel-good elements that they love so much in the US and in the NFL.

So it’s understandable that Patriots owner Robert Kraft wants to stick with Jerod Mayo and believe in this story.

Mayo was a player with the Pats under Bill Belichick from 2008 to 2015, then on the legendary coach’s coaching staff from 2019 onward.

So he learned from one of the best before taking over as head coach before the 2024 season, when he was supposed to lead the Patriots into the post-Belichick era. But sometimes even years of apprenticeship under the greatest in the business are not enough.

At least that’s the impression gained in Mayo’s first season as head coach.

As a rule, rookie coaches in the NFL get a settling-in period, a kind of grace period that is a little longer for one franchise than for another, depending on expectations.

Even though the Patriots are spoiled by their glorious past, it was clear that Mayo did not have to make the playoffs in his first year to earn a second year. The upheaval was too profound for that.

But the hurdle was recently lowered even further when it was said that the Patriots should simply not embarrass themselves in the rest of the program. Just please don’t become the laughing stock of the league. It’s a good thing the New York Giants are there.

Nevertheless, Mayo and his team have cleared even this hurdle; it is clear not only from the 7-40 loss to the Chargers in Week 17 that it won’t work without embarrassment. The week before, it was close against the Buffalo Bills, 21-24, but the Patriots gave away a 14-0 lead. The fact that the players are reportedly happy that the Bills will rest their starters in the rematch in Week 18 says a lot about the state of the franchise.

The bottom line is a disastrous season, which can be proven not only by the 3-12 record but also by all sorts of other numbers games, for which Mayo is not exclusively responsible.

New England Patriots: a fine line for Kraft

Therefore, a decision against him would be much less logical than the one made for him before the season.

It’s a fine line for Kraft. Continuity has advantages, such as in the development of rookie quarterback Drake Maye. With an owner who expresses confidence in the head coach and sticks to it, it is much easier to work in a relaxed and effective manner.

At the same time, however, sticking with the wrong coach can set the franchise back years, as it can a young playmaker. Mayo and his team make personnel decisions, assemble the team and set up the franchise for the future. And they significantly influence the franchise quarterback, for better or worse.

If things go wrong for another year, a fresh start will be even more difficult.

In the case of Mayo, it’s not just about the number of mistakes, the immediate effects, the problems surrounding the franchise, also due to his inexperience.

There are strong indications that he is simply not up to the task (yet), but that does not automatically rule out a turnaround in 2025, because a good coach should grow with the challenges and, above all, not make the same mistakes twice.

Trying this out is a risk that Kraft must weigh.

New England Patriots: The alternative is on the market

What speaks above all for a fresh start is the alternative. Mike Vrabel is available, he is even said to be interested, he knows the franchise from his active days (2001 to 2008), but has long since cut the cord, has enough distance to be able to turn his ex-employer around without any problems, to carry out the urgently needed modernization.

With the Tennessee Titans, he has proven that he can build, lead and develop a successful NFL team. The Titans made the playoffs three times in six seasons, and he won the AFC South division title twice with the team. He has managed to get the most out of the opportunities available to him.

It’s not often that you find a match on the coaching market that suits both sides, and quickly. What should be clear is that Vrabel is likely to be an option for the time being for the last time this offseason.

There is no guarantee that he will bring success back to Foxboro. However, his signing would significantly increase the likelihood of that.

Or to put it another way: the step would be even more logical.