Throughout all the debate about Jerod Mayo's status as the Patriots head coach for 2025 and beyond, we haven't heard much from the man himself on the reports that have only heightened as the season has progressed. It's become even more of the topic over the past week, as reports have suggested a few replacements could be on Robert Kraft's radar, emphasizing the pressure that Mayo is under over the final games of the year.
But that pressure doesn't start and end with Mayo alone. The staff around him are also being put under the microscope, specifically offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and defensive coordinator Demarcus Covington, as both groups have struggled all season long.
Replacements for them have been discussed, as well, but it's not something Mayo has chosen to comment on until now.
Jerod Mayo admits that coaching changes might be made this offseason
During his weekly appearance on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" on Monday, the Patriots head coach spoke about the chances of changes being made to the coaching staff during the 2025 offseason for the first time, opening the door into what many believe is the best thing for Kraft to do if he wants to have a successful team moving forward.
“Look, I try to stay as present as possible, but the reality is you always have to look out the front windshield when you’re trying to build a team. For me, after we get through the season, there are a lot of things, a lot of checklists you have to go through: what players you want to keep around, what coaches you want to keep around here.”
It might not be incredibly significant, but it is the first time we've heard this kind of take from Mayo all season long. He's discussed the rumors surrounding his status as the head coach, just not about what's being said regarding his staff, so that feels noteworthy with only two games left to be played.
It seems like the most likely scenario for the Patriots this upcoming offseason, as the idea of completely cleaning the house one year after doing just that seems like a large task. Kraft has been vocal about his support for Mayo, even mentioning that he knew five years ago he would be the successor to Bill Belichick.
However, he's not that loyal to the staff Mayo chose to surround himself with, making it a bit easier for the team owner to move on from them than anyone else.
It will be a tough decision for him to make, though, mainly depending on who will be available to hire in the offseason, most notably Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson. Both are expected to be the top candidates for coach needy teams, and if either are hired, that means Kraft won't be able to consider them if things fall apart with Mayo.