Greg Bedard of *Boston Sports Journal* stirred up some buzz this week by suggesting that New England Patriots’ head coach Jerod Mayo, in his first year, might not be guaranteed a second season if the team is seen as a “complete dumpster fire” by the season’s end.
In a Wednesday mailbag, *Sports Illustrated* NFL insider Albert Breer echoed this sentiment, suggesting that how engaged the Patriots players remain through Week 18 could influence owner Robert Kraft’s decision regarding Mayo’s future. Breer noted that Mayo earned respect in the locker room quickly due to his background as a former player, but emphasized that respect alone won’t secure his job—Mayo needs to show that he can make his team better, both individually and collectively.
Prior to New England’s current 1-6 record, there were rumors of a possible “mutiny” in the locker room after Mayo controversially labeled his team as “soft” following a recent loss. Despite this, multiple players have publicly supported Mayo, and Patriots beat writer Chris Mason of *MassLive* speculated on Thursday that even if the Patriots finish with a dismal 1-16 record, Kraft likely won’t fire Mayo after just one season. Mason believes if rookie quarterback Drake Maye falters, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt would be the scapegoat, not Mayo.
Kraft had confidence in hiring Mayo without conducting a coaching search, trusting his gut, and Mason thinks he’ll stick with him even if the season continues to unravel.
With the Patriots listed as seven-point underdogs for Sunday’s matchup against the 2-5 New York Jets, Karen Guregian of *MassLive* highlighted that this divisional game will further define Mayo’s role and whether his players have tuned him out entirely. While it’s easy to assume Kraft will stay the course, history suggests that coaches rarely keep their jobs after losing the locker room during such a disastrous season.
