Jerod Mayo was introduced as the 15th head coach of the New England Patriots on January 17th, 2024. He succeeds his former head coach, mentor, and coaching legend Bill Belichick. Mayo has been on the Patriots coaching staff for the last five years, serving as the teams inside linebacker’s coach.
Since joining the Patriots coaching staff the team has finished in the top 10 in total team defense, including ranking first in the NFL in 2019. Mayo has played an integral role in coaching and developing a number of Pro Bowl linebackers, including Dont’a Hightower, Matthew Judon, and Josh Uche.
Before entering the coaching world, Mayo had an illustrious playing career as a linebacker in the NFL. Mayo was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 draft and spent his entire NFL career in New England before retiring following the 2015 season. He was named captain for seven consecutive seasons (2009-15) and is a 2014 Super Bowl Champion. Mayo made the Pro Bowl after the 2010 and 2012 seasons after leading the league in tackles each season. In 2010, he earned Associated Press first-team All- Pro honors.
He led the Patriots in total tackles in each of his first five seasons and became just the second Patriots player to win the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mayo played collegiately at Tennessee from 2005-07 and appeared in 32 games, registering 236 total tackles.
In-between his playing and coaching careers, Mayo served as an executive in finance at Optum as vice president of business development. While at Optum from 2016 through 2019, Mayo took the skills and understanding that he mastered in football and transformed himself into a business executive.
Mayo is married to his wife, Chantel, and they have four children.