Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo.
So much for that. The Patriots’ plan to move on from Bill Belichick but not really with one of his most trusted lieutenants predictably did not pan out. It was ol’ Bill, of course, who haunted the 2024 proceedings, as this roster simply was not ready for prime time. Horribly understocked on offense, it suffered from the loss of Belichick’s unmatched defensive acumen on the other side of the ball. As for Mayo, he had trouble picking a lane in too many critical areas, including at quarterback to begin the year. Mayo seemed to grow increasingly frustrated and bewildered as the season wore on, never giving the sense he had the right answers. He was in a tough situation, but one where he decidedly did not rise above his circumstances. The attention now turns to another sort-of Belichick acolyte, Mike Vrabel. 38-year-old Mayo, who has never even served as a defensive coordinator, faces an uncertain coaching future.