Going into Week 18, the New England Patriots didn't have a whole lot to play for. Having been eliminated from playoff contention a while ago, the Pats were only playing for pride in a divisional matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
If you're a Pats fan who wanted the no. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there was that aspect as well. But, head coach Jerod Mayo wasn't about to lay down and die, despite giving backup quarterback Joe Milton the reins in this one.
New England would wind up winning this game against some Buffalo backups, as well, by a score of 23-16. It was a positive for the players to go out on amid a difficult, losing season. The Patriots did, indeed, fall to the no. 4 pick in the draft with the win.
And, as for Mayo's job security after going out with a win? The Patriots wasted no time making a decision.
Right after the game, Patriots owner Robert Kraft informed Mayo that he had been fired. It was so soon after the game that it seemed borderline-disrespectful to make a move so quickly.
Kraft called this "one of the most difficult decisions" he's ever made, although making the decision so quickly after the game also seems like Mayo's fate was set in stone even before today's kickoff. There was nothing he could have done to stick around.
Robert Kraft releases statement after Patriots fire Jerod Mayo
The Patriots owner posted a statement on the firing almost as quickly as the news was released, again talking about the difficulty of the decision and how he had higher hopes following the team's Week 1 victory over Cincinnati.
Statement from Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft: https://t.co/2YgHtzzBHK pic.twitter.com/GMXGgd768x
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 5, 2025
Now, the Patriots officially have the NFL's fourth head coaching vacancy in an offseason that will likely see as many as eight or nine, in total.
Some of the top candidates that will get plenty of attention include Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who would be a phenomenal hire for the likes of quarterback Drake Maye.
There's also the connection between Kraft and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and spent the past year as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns.
Vrabel will likely get an opportunity to interview for the job, but he'll be a hot candidate and has already interviewed with the New York Jets. Vrabel will probably also end up meeting with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears in the coming days, as well.