Jerod Mayo rejoining Patriots as linebackers coach

Former New England Patriots defensive captain Jerod Mayo is rejoining the team, having been hired by Bill Belichick to be the new linebackers coach.

Welcome home, Jerod Mayo.

The former linebacker and defensive captain, who played for the New England Patriots from 2008-2015, has been hired as the team’s new linebackers coach. Mayo first reported the news himself via his Instagram account, and it was confirmed not long after by the organization itself.

The move reunites head coach Bill Belichick with Mayo, whose former colleagues used to refer to as “Bill Jr.” because of his tireless work ethic and incredible knowledge of the game, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

“It was inevitable,” ex-teammate Tedy Bruschi commented on Mayo’s post. “You gonna be great my brother.”

Mayo wrote that “it is with great excitement, passion, and sense of purpose to share with you that I have accepted Coach Belichick’s offer to rejoin the New England Patriots as a Coach.” As a former captain and the “Mike” linebacker – or middle linebacker who calls out defensive audibles and relays messages from the defensive coordinator – Mayo is the perfect candidate to assume the role of linebackers coach for the Pats.

Brian Flores had previously occupied the position for New England, along with being the de facto defensive coordinator after Matt Patricia left for the Detroit Lions head coaching vacancy. Flores, of course, left himself this offseason to take the head coaching job for the Miami Dolphins.

Presumably, adding Mayo to the mix will help ease some of the changes and transitions the Patriots will undergo this summer as they begin offseason activities and training camp. The shake-up of the coaching staff post-February has been more dramatic and wide-ranging this year than compared to years past; hopefully Mayo’s familiar face and presence will be a steadying factor for the defense as they hope to build on their sensational performance in Super Bowl 53.

At least one current Patriots linebacker seemed excited by the news: Dont’a Hightower, a middle linebacker and “Mike” himself, commented on the post, “Let’s go to work big bruda… I mean coach.”

Though Mayo spent the past three years retired, he had previously intimated a desire to join the coaching ranks after spending some time away from football and with his family. It appears that now was the perfect time for him to take the perfect job, and a reunion with the Patriots just feels magical for both sides.

As a player, Mayo was dominant and intelligent across eight seasons spent in the NFL. Twice he went to the Pro Bowl, he was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2010, and he was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008. Mayo also helped the Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX over the Seattle Seahawks.