Patriots owner Robert Kraft takes the blame after Jerod Mayo’s firing: ‘The whole situation is on me’
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement Sunday night regarding the firing of Jerod Mayo, believing it was the right move after just one season at the helm.
Now Kraft is solely focused on moving quickly with another head coaching search after him and Bill Belichick they split before the 2024 season.
However, before discussing the plan this time around, Kraft took the blame after another 4-13 campaign.
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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft warms up for the Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“This whole situation is my responsibility,” Kraft told reporters Monday, via ESPN. “I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an unsustainable situation. I know he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time to take over the job.
“At the end of the day, I’m a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach that can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully a championship.”
Teams are already calling potential head coaching candidates, and the Patriots aren’t wasting any time.
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New England was pinging Detroit Lions on an official interview request with star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. And, of course, Kraft was asked about Mike Vrabel, another former player of his who has far more NFL coaching experience than Mayo, who was leading a team for the first time.
“There are some great people we’ve heard about,” Kraft said when asked about Vrabel, who was most recently the head coach of the Tennessee Titans before being fired after the 2023 season. “I’d rather answer that after seeing everything. We want to interview as many people as we think can help us get to the position we want to be in.”
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks at the scoreboard during the Buffalo Bills game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on December 22, 2024. (Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)
As for the process, Kraft’s son, Jonathan, who serves as team president, will be involved, as will senior executive director of personnel Alonzo Highsmith and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. Kraft’s front office will also remain the same during this coaching transition.
Mayo’s final game as a head coach had implications for the NFL draft on Sunday, as Joe Milton III lost the No. 1 overall pick to the Patriots in a breakout game against the Buffalo Bills. Now in April they will choose the fourth overall.
But Kraft wasn’t bothered by Mayo leading the Patriots to the eventual season-ending victory, as he said the former New Englander was informed of the decision after the game.
“At the end of the day, I’m a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach that can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully a championship.” said Robert Kraft. (Brian Fluharty-USA Today Sports)
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“He was human,” Kraft said of Mayo’s reaction to the firing. “Look, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life because I had such affection for him. And I believe in him. I really believe he’s going to be successful as he gets more experience. He was a gentleman and he took it that way. “
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