It's been two years since Robert Kraft fired Bill Belichick as the Patriots' head coach after two decades of dominance and decided Jerod Mayo was the right guy to replace him. It was a move that was immediately scrutinized for various reasons, mostly because the former linebacker had never even been a coordinator in the NFL, and the forthcoming season proved he wasn't ready for the role.
A lot of that can be blamed on Kraft for not setting him up for success, starting with the limited money spent in free agency. They couldn't pay the players they needed on the roster, which led to the team's further demise.
It resulted in just four wins that season and Kraft firing Mayo after just one year, and while it might have been the right move, it wasn't the most fair, since he was not given a proper chance to succeed as the head coach.
Since then, we haven't seen or heard much from Mayo, and the latest update suggests he may be out of football for good, which is disappointing for longtime Patriots fans, especially during the dynasty era.
Jerod Mayo seeks new career in his post-Patriots life
According to the latest reports, Mayo has now completely removed himself from the game of football and returned to the business world, taking a new role as managing director at Fifth Down Capital, a private equity and business capital firm.
Before he returned to the Patriots as a coach, he was the Vice President of Business Development at Optum for three years, so his transition back to a normal job isn't exactly surprising.
However, it's the brutal reality of just how unfairly he was treated by the Patriots at the end, regardless of whether he would have been a good fit as a head coach long-term or not.
Maybe he didn't deserve a second season in that role, since the issues during the 2024 season went beyond just his inexperience. But Kraft's improper handling of the entire situation can't be overstated or overlooked, and it has now forced Mayo out of the game he loves.
There had been rumblings of a few teams that were potentially interested in bringing him in, with the top team being the Steelers, but nothing came of it. Instead, Mayo looks to be seeking a quieter life away from football, and while it's sad to see, he might be happier there.
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