Although their position in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is at play based on the results of their Week 18 matchup with the Bills, the main focus of the Patriots season finale game is squarely on the future of Jerod Mayo and his coaching staff beyond this year.
It has been the conversation for most of the season, as the losses continued to pile up and the team seemingly getting worse rather than improving. They enter this week's game with a 3-13 record and the potential to end what should have been a slightly improved season with an even worse record than 2023, the year that got Bill Belichick fired.
Because of that, many reporters over the last few days have framed today's game as one that Mayo and his staff are coaching to keep their jobs. But it's looking like it might be too little too late, at least according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Jerod Mayo's fate might have already been decided by Robert Kraft
While appearing on NFL Countdown on ESPN Sunday morning, Schefter gave his take on several head coaches and labeled them as safe or out after this week concludes.
When it came to discussing Mayo, he stated he was "leaning to out," which is the first time we've heard that from one of the most respected insiders in the league.
Jerod Mayo: Leaning out.
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) January 5, 2025
"The Kraft family has wanted to stand by [Mayo] and give him support ... Over the last 30 days, the team has struggled - they've lost at home, fans have been angered, they've been apathetic.
"It feels like within the organization there's been a shift.… https://t.co/j9XAsq6A0E
That could mean a lot since he has tiptoed around the subject when asked over the last few weeks, or it could simply be just his opinion. However, Schefter is usually not one to make significant guesses like this unless he knows something so that certainly stands out about this.