Expectations were low for the Patriots' 2024 season, as they have mostly been since Tom Brady left the team in 2020, and they continued to disappoint due to their inability to even reach the low threshold placed upon them.
That was the case with Jerod Mayo despite the unfavorable circumstances he was put in when taking over the team, which ultimately led to his firing after Week 18.
Although many felt that was the right decision, even if he was only in his first year as a head coach, there has been a lot of chatter regarding how he got the promotion in the first place. Rumors claim Robert Kraft and the former linebacker schemed behind Bill Belichick's back in 2023, prompting the former head coach to have some ill feelings toward his old team.
That might explain his response to the Patriots latest drama surrounding Mayo's firing, which he spoke about during a new episode of his "Let's Go!" podcast this week.
Bill Belichick hints at who else is responsible for big decisions in the Patriots organization
Most were curious to hear what Belichick would have to say about the situation, especially because of the tension that was rumored to be happening behind the scenes in Foxboro over the last few years.
He was initially asked about it during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, but he was limited in his response. He went into far more detail about it during his podcast with Jim Gray and seemed to reveal all who make decisions in New England beyond Kraft.
“That’s (Robert Kraft’s) choice. People that own the team have the choice to do whatever they want to do. The other people that were in place... it’s also the rest of the organization, it’s not just the head coach.
So, you know, Robyn Glaser, Jonathan Kraft, whoever the other people are that are involved in those decisions and the structure of the organization. But you need that shared vision between ownership and the coaching and scouting. And that’s when you can be successful."
His naming dropping of Robyn Glaser stood out the most and seems to give a behind-the-scenes look at what's going on in the Patriots organization beyond the Krafts. Glaser has been touted as a longtime confidant of Robert, as she worked for the Kraft Group and was involved in football operations for the Patriots.
After Belichick's departure, it has been reported she was seen more involved in other aspects of the game, even sitting in on interviews. Whether her increased involvement played a role in what has been going on is unknown, but it's noteworthy that Belichick mentioned her name.
It's also interesting to hear his take on who is to blame for the Patriots' failures, which he seemed to do by stating the fault is on the shoulders of more than just the head coach. It is important to remember when dissecting the team's dysfunction over the last few years, even more so when considering the environment that Mayo took over last year.