New England Patriots bypass NFL rule with second use of contract loophole

12 January 2024 , 18:44

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Jerod Mayo has worked under Bill Belichick since 2019 and will now replace him (Image: No credit)

The New England Patriots have swiftly appointed Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, following Bill Belichick's departure. The Patriots are the first of nine NFL teams to secure a new head coach for the 2024 season, with 37-year-old Mayo set to become the youngest in the league.

Owner Robert Kraft has shown faith in Mayo, the team's inside linebackers coach, by promoting him internally. This move sees the Patriots transition from one of the oldest to the youngest head coaches.

The Patriots were able to bypass the usual lengthy NFL hiring process due to a succession plan outlined in a previous contract. This isn't the first time Kraft has used this approach, having done the same when considering Josh McDaniels as a potential successor.

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McDaniels left the Patriots to join the Las Vegas Raiders, but now that Belichick has departed, the Patriots have finally been able to implement their strategy to bypass hiring rules at the second attempt at using the loophole. This is a significant move from the Patriots' management, with Mike Vrabel being a favourite for the position after his departure from the Tennessee Titans.

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The Patriots are also entrusting Mayo with key resources, as they hold the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and have the third-largest cap space in the league to rebuild the team after two consecutive seasons without playoffs. However, Kraft has had faith in Mayo for a while, and last season he praised him highly on NFL Network.

Mayo had a clause in his contract which has seen the Patriots bypass NFL hiring rules (No credit)

"Well, he's definitely a strong candidate to be the heir apparent, but we have some other good people in our system," Kraft said. "There's no ceiling on (Mayo's) ability to be a head coach. And he'll be a head coach. I'm sure of that. I hope he's with us, so we'll see what happens."

Mayo, who was a linebacker for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 after being selected 10th overall, returned four years later to become their inside linebackers coach. His tenure as head coach now begins, marking the first time since 2000 that the Patriots have a new man at the helm.

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Joseph McBride