NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS first-year head coach Jerod Mayo walked into the interview room at Wembley Stadium as if he had just come from a huddle in his linebacker days. He looked frustrated as he took the podium and spoke honestly.
“Look, what I’d say is we’re a soft football team across the board.”
The Patriots started their Week 7 game in London strong, taking a 10-0 lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first quarter. But then, the Patriots allowed the Jaguars to score the next 25 points, losing their sixth straight game.
Mayo didn’t slam his fist on the podium, but he was very direct in his criticism of the team.
“We can’t run the ball. Can’t stop the run. Can’t cover kicks.”
Some reporters were surprised by how blunt and harsh his comments were. It was something they hadn’t seen much of in the past 24 years of covering the Patriots.
This was the first season in 25 years without Bill Belichick as head coach. Mayo was chosen by owner Robert Kraft for his ability to connect with younger players. The new era of Patriots football sparked hope, especially after they drafted quarterback Drake Maye in the first round.
This optimism carried into the season, highlighted by a surprising Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the biggest upsets since 2018.
However, things quickly turned sour with questionable coaching decisions, confusing press conferences, and poor performances. Fans started chanting “Fire Mayo,” and there was growing uncertainty about the future of the head coaching position.
The day after his tough comments in London, Mayo clarified that he meant the Patriots were “playing soft.” This wasn’t the first time he had to walk back his words in his first year as head coach. The team responded positively by beating Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets the following week.
Players mentioned that Mayo gave a similar speech about softness in the locker room before talking to the media. They said his message felt more impactful coming directly from him.
But consistent victories have been hard to come by, raising questions about Mayo and his coaching staff. Team sources admit the Patriots are often outmatched in terms of talent, partly because the team inherited a depleted roster.
Mayo, at 38, is the second-youngest head coach in the NFL, behind Seattle’s Mike Macdonald.
“I knew this was going to be a challenging season,” Mayo said. “Obviously, the expectations here are always high. Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to meet those expectations. In saying that, I think the biggest problem with us as a team — and it starts with me — is just being consistent.”
After an unexpected road win against Cincinnati and a home-opening overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots’ offense struggled, and Mayo felt he had to make a change.
The turning point came in Week 5. Rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk caught a touchdown pass from Jacoby Brissett, giving the Patriots a 16-15 lead over the Miami Dolphins with just over a minute left. But the touchdown was overturned after review, as Polk’s heel was out of bounds, and the Patriots lost the game.
“One more inch and it’s different,” Brissett said, reflecting on that painful moment. “I don’t think words can describe how tough it is.”
That loss, along with the Patriots’ offense averaging just 12.4 points per game and Brissett taking 49 quarterback hits, pushed Mayo to turn to rookie QB Drake Maye.
“I think Drake now gives us the best chance to win,” Mayo said at the time.
Mayo had called offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt “the head coach of the offense” but stressed that the decision to make the QB change was his. Mayo had initially planned for Maye to start in late October, but after Maye performed better than Brissett late in the preseason, he was tempted to make the switch sooner.
Mayo had hoped to give the offensive line time to improve, believing that Brissett could help keep the team competitive until Maye was ready to take over.
Mayo decided to start Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, as quarterback in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.
“When is it ever a perfect scenario?” a high-ranking team executive asked at a practice before the game.
That same day, an assistant coach said: “We’re going to see what the kid’s got!”
Since Maye’s debut, the Patriots have not looked back at quarterback.
Maye, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds, has completed 66.7% of his passes (14th in the NFL), with 15 touchdown passes (22nd) and 10 interceptions (tied for 18th). He’s also rushed for 421 yards (8th among quarterbacks) and two rushing touchdowns in 12 games.
Maye’s 95 rushing yards against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 were the third most by a quarterback in franchise history.
As the season ends, Maye has thrown at least one touchdown pass in eight straight games, a rookie record for the Patriots. His three touchdown passes of 35 or more yards are the most by a New England quarterback in a season since Tom Brady had three in 2009.
In the middle of a tough season, team owner Robert Kraft pointed to Maye as a bright spot, saying: “I promise you we’re building something special. How about that Drake Maye?”
Mayo, who had just five seasons as a defensive assistant with the Patriots before becoming head coach, has shown his inexperience this year. He has given mixed messages to the media, and there have been times when a more aggressive approach could have helped the team. One example came after one of Maye’s best moments.
The Patriots were down 17-10 to the Titans in Week 9. With just a few seconds left in the fourth quarter, Maye stood ready for a third-and-goal play. As the Titans rushed three and dropped eight players into coverage, Maye looked for an open receiver but couldn’t find one.
“Nobody’s open!” said Fox play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti.
By the time Maye threw the ball, 11.82 seconds had passed. With two Titans defenders closing in on him, Maye threw a perfect pass into the arms of running back Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone.
“Oh my goodness! Maye with an absolute jewel of an effort!” Benetti exclaimed.
Maye was helped to his feet by two offensive linemen and raised both arms in the air.
The Patriots had cut the Titans’ lead to 17-16 and gained momentum. Mayo could have chosen to go for a two-point conversion for the win or kicked the extra point to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Maye took off his chinstrap and jogged to the sideline, but Mayo decided to play for the tie with the extra point. The Patriots lost the coin toss, allowed a long drive, and the Titans kicked a field goal to win. Then, Maye was intercepted, ending the game.
“I’m always going to do what I think is best for the team,” Mayo said. “I think we can talk about analytics and all those things, which we do use those things. At the same time, there’s also a flow to the game. As a head coach, the decision and the consequence is on me.”
The choice to play for overtime instead of going for the win was one of several questionable in-game decisions Mayo made. Another came in early December when, in a 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Mayo opted for a 68-yard field goal attempt to end the game instead of trying a Hail Mary. A 68-yard field goal had never been made before.
“He’s getting valuable experience in situational football,” said former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich. “I don’t care who you are or how long you’ve done it, until you’re put in those situations and have to react, you learn by going through them. If he faces them again, maybe he’ll make different decisions next time.”
Mayo, who has been more open with the media than Bill Belichick, has had to clarify his statements multiple times this season.
In January 2024, shortly after Mayo was hired, he told a radio show that the Patriots were ready to “burn some cash” in free agency. He later admitted it was a “rookie mistake” and explained the team would spend wisely.
After a frustrating loss to the Arizona Cardinals, when the Patriots failed on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 plays with running back Antonio Gibson, Mayo was asked if using Maye as a rusher had been considered.
“You said it. I didn’t,” Mayo responded.
Some thought Mayo was criticizing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, but Mayo later clarified that it was not aimed at Van Pelt and was simply a defensive reaction to a topic he didn’t want to address.
In a pregame interview this past Sunday, Mayo said that Gibson would start at running back over Stevenson, who had fumbled a league-high seven times the previous week. However, Stevenson started the game, and when asked about the change, Mayo said it was a “coach’s decision.”
This offseason, Mayo plans to reflect deeply on his first year as head coach, focusing on areas like game management, team structure, culture, and his press conference approach.
“Do I think I’ve done things right? Absolutely. Are there ways to improve? 1,000%. Do I wish I would have done certain things differently? Yeah,” he said.
“I’m going to go somewhere where no one can find me – just by myself, no kids, no nothing – and just reflect on the season. I think it’s important not only for football players but for anyone to take those times and see what you can do better.”
There have been brief moments showing what a winning team and culture might look like under Mayo’s leadership.
After the Patriots’ most convincing win of the season, a 19-3 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 10, Mayo celebrated loudly in the locker room, shouting, “Yeahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!”
He then handed out game balls, starting with kicker Joey Slye, who was perfect on four field goal attempts. Mayo also mentioned that Slye’s wife, Brittaney, had just given birth to a baby girl named Palmer.
The players cheered, and Mayo called up linebacker Jahlani Tavai. He told the team that Tavai’s fiancée, Kalei, had also just given birth to a baby girl named Honua, which means “earth” in Hawaiian. Mayo briefly checked a piece of paper to make sure he didn’t mispronounce the name, and the team repeated it in celebration.
When Mayo became head coach, he emphasized the importance of showing players he cared for them before demanding from them. This moment in the locker room at Soldier Field was one of the best examples of this leadership style during the season.
Although the Patriots haven’t won since then, players have supported Mayo through the tough times, saying they believe in him and his leadership.
Receiver DeMario Douglas said, “It’s the new style coming in, what players need. We need that energy, that young energy that has us feeling like we’d run through a brick wall for him. Despite the record, he had us ready to go and play the next game.”
Mayo pushed players hard in training camp, with some veterans noting it was tougher than the final years under Bill Belichick. The team was expected to win only four games, and they entered Week 1 against Cincinnati as the biggest underdog in the NFL that week.
After the unexpected opening win, Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told the players in the locker room, “No one outside this room believed this could happen. I’m spoiled now. I’m going to count on a lot more.”
Looking back, one high-ranking team official said that the surprise win in Week 1 shifted expectations, which added pressure on Mayo, especially since the roster lacked enough talent to compete. However, players have acknowledged how Mayo remained steady and consistent in the locker room.
Receiver Kendrick Bourne said, “I don’t think he shows his cards, and I love that. He doesn’t seem phased and he’s letting it take its time because he knows he can’t rush it and it’s a process. He has to let young guys mature, manage veterans, know who’s going to be here [next year]. He’s learning as a first-year coach — not overthinking.”
Running back Antonio Gibson, who felt a strong bond with Mayo from the day he signed as a free agent in March, appreciated how Mayo managed the players’ workloads. With a tough training camp and the team’s late Week 14 bye, adjustments were needed.
Gibson said, “He’s been in our shoes before, so you can kind of see how our schedule went. Especially with our record, where a coach might not let up on you, I don’t think he did that. He understood where we were at, how our bodies were feeling at certain points of the season, and he definitely looked out for us from that standpoint.”
As the season continued, the Patriots still had many issues to address, especially in free agency and the draft. On Aug. 18, during training camp, Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf spoke to reporters.
He seemed surprised by the media presence and mentioned a hopeful outlook on the offensive line, saying, “We’re excited about our offensive line group. We’re still working to find that correct combination in there. I think we have the pieces in place to compete.”
However, this prediction proved to be a mistake. Due to personnel issues, injuries, and poor performance, the Patriots started a different offensive line combination in each of the first seven weeks and have used 10 different combinations as they approach their season finale.
First-year offensive line coach Scott Peters admitted, “We’ve had obviously a hodgepodge of guys in there throughout the season.”
For the second consecutive year, the Patriots ranked last in the NFL in pass block win rate (50.8%) and run block win rate (67.6%).
Wolf had made it a priority to improve the offense and build a system that would help develop a rookie quarterback, but this goal was never fully achieved. The team made unsuccessful attempts to sign wide receiver Calvin Ridley (who ended up with Tennessee) and traded for receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who stayed in San Francisco.
The Patriots did draft two receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round and Javon Baker in the fourth, but neither has made a major impact so far.
Wolf also selected offensive linemen Caedan Wallace (third round) and Layden Robinson (fourth round), but it’s still uncertain whether either will become a starting player. Fixing the offensive line will remain a priority in the offseason.
Former Patriots player and NBC analyst Devin McCourty said, “Talent-wise they need to redo the O-line and find five they can keep on the field. Young O-linemen getting reps this year should help them going forward.”
Another area that didn’t meet expectations was the defense, especially given Mayo’s background as a defensive player and assistant.
While the Patriots were hit by injuries to key players like linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (who suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 2) and defensive tackle Christian Barmore (who played only four games after being diagnosed with blood clots in July), the defense under first-year coordinator DeMarcus Covington has regressed.
The Patriots’ defense ranks last in the NFL in quarterback contacts, according to ESPN Research. Their third-down conversion defense has dropped from seventh last season (36.3%) to 26th this year (43.5%), and their 12 takeaways are tied for 30th in the league.
As of the last game of the previous season, the Patriots had allowed 349 points and 37 touchdowns. As they approach the final game of this season, they’ve allowed 401 points and 45 touchdowns.
Their red zone defense is also struggling, ranking 24th in touchdown percentage (61.8%), down from 5th last season (46.1%).
Veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said, “We have some new coaches — learning how to do things their way. It’s still, basically on defense, the same stuff we did in the past, maybe add one or two new wrinkles. We just have to learn how to finish games.”
If the Patriots lose to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Gillette Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS), they will secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for the first time since 1993. With plenty of salary cap space and multiple areas of need, including wide receiver, defensive tackle, and pass rusher, the team is expected to be aggressive in free agency.
“There is definitely a need for more talent,” said Ninkovich. “The offensive line struggled, and the depth isn’t ideal… Defensively, they underperformed from where many thought they would be from last year to this year, and they could use a pass-rusher who gets to the quarterback.
While they need more talent, I also think another year of learning will help the whole team, which includes Mayo.”
Mayo has pointed out that other coaches faced early struggles, such as Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions. Campbell started his first year with a 0-10-1 record in 2021 and was 1-6 to begin his second season.
“It takes time. Look at those guys now, both from a roster and coaching perspective,” Mayo said of the Lions, who are now fighting for the NFC’s No. 1 seed this week. “From his first year to his second year to his third year — there was change and he got it nailed down.”
Similarly, the Bengals’ Zac Taylor had a 6-25-1 record in his first two seasons (2019, 2020). One team source pointed to the patience shown by Bengals ownership with Taylor as something that could apply to New England, seeing the potential that quarterback Joe Burrow brought to Cincinnati in 2020 as a sign of what Maye might be able to do with more help and talent around him.
“It hasn’t gone the way that any of us have wanted it to go,” Mayo said. “Steve Jobs had a quote where you have ‘winning years’ and then you have ‘character-building years.’ This has been one of those character-building years that I’ll always remember.”
