Sources say the Patriots are naming Jerrod Mayo as Bill Belichick's successor

The Patriots have selected Jerrod Mayo as Bill Belichick's successor and the 15th head coach in franchise history, sources told ESPN.

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – Move fast One day after parting ways with legendary coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have named Jerrod Mayo as their successor and the 15th head coach in franchise history.Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

May, 37 years old, It will be officially presented at a press conference next week. He will be the youngest coach in the NFLa title that Sean McVay has held since he was appointed his coach Los Angeles Rams In 2017; Mayo is one month younger than McVay.

Mayo, linebacker for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 After being selected in the first round of the draft out of Tennessee, He joined Belichick's coaching staff in 2019, serving as the linebackers coach.

The Patriots bypassed the NFL's standard recruiting process and immediately hired Mayo as they put a succession plan in place in the contract extension he signed last offseason, similar to what Baltimore Ravens In his position as general manager when Eric DeCosta took over from Ozzie Newsome in 2019.

maybe He becomes the first black coach in Patriots history.

Mayo had notable support among the players in the locker roomEspecially in defense. When news of Belichick's departure broke, one defender said in a text message: “I hope they give it to Mayo. He deserves it.”.

Team captain Dietrich Wise Jr. He credited Mayo as the main reason he felt the defense had success against the Buffalo Bills' quarterback, Josh Allenin a Week 17 loss.

As a player, Mayo was named team captain in his second seasonSome players referred to him as Bell Jr. because they saw him as a future coach who spent countless hours in the team's facilities, like Belichick himself.

Belichick and the Patriots announced Thursday that he is leaving the team after 24 seasons as coach, including six Super Bowl titles.. The decision to part ways was made after meetings between Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Belichick said it was time to “move on.”

Mayo spent his entire playing career in New EnglandHe appeared in 103 games with a total of 905 tackles. He led the team in tackles in each of his first five seasons and came clean The second Patriots player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year From the Associated Press. He was part of the Super Bowl championship team in 2014, and was limited to six games that season due to a leg injury.