A year ago, after they parted ways with legendary head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots appeared to have their present and future head coach in Jerod Mayo, who had been a linebacker on Belichick’s dynastic teams in the late 2000s and 2010s.
But after they went 4-13 this season, Mayo was fired literally moments following their final game, and Mike Vrabel, the former Tennessee Titans head coach, was hired to take his place.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez said on the “Frat Rules Podcast” that he liked Mayo and that the organization wasn’t fair to Mayo.
“I did [like Jerod Mayo as a coach]. I did. I think they did him a little dirty giving him only one year. But, it’s business… We gon’ see what [Mike Vrabel] do… They damn near cleaned house.”
Christian Gonzalez speaks on the Patriots' firing Jerod Mayo:
"I did [like Jerod Mayo as a coach]. I did. I think they did him a little dirty giving him only one year. But, it's business… We gon' see what [Mike Vrabel] do… They damn near cleaned house."
Gonzalez loves talking… pic.twitter.com/6i3o35K098
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 19, 2025
Mayo played eight seasons for New England from 2008 to 2015, and during that time, he was named to the Pro Bowl twice and the All-Pro First Team once while leading the NFL in both combined and solo tackles during the 2010 campaign.
Gonzalez certainly has an argument, as New England had a very weak roster this season, which makes it hard to judge the job Mayo did as their head coach.
Now, however, they will have an experienced and proven head coach in Vrabel, who spent six seasons in charge of Tennessee and guided the team to the AFC Championship Game in 2019 despite never having a truly great player at the quarterback position.
It will be up to him to help develop quarterback Drake Maye, who is coming off of a promising rookie year, as well as develop young prospects such as Gonzalez, who recorded 11 passes defended in 2024.
NEXT: Patriots Insider Calls For Team To Acquire Cooper Kupp
