Scarcely 24 hours after the New England Patriots bid farewell to Bill Belichick after 24 seasons at head coach, the Pats named Jerod Mayo as their new head coach.
Mayo was a linebacker for the Pats for eight seasons earning a Super Bowl ring in 2014 and almost five years ago was named the team's linebacker coach. At 37, Mayo will be the youngest head coach in the NFL.
While this an extraordinary opportunity, I do not envy Jerod Mayo for a second. Despite the team's recent misfortunes, Mayo will invariably be compared to Belichick and will more likely than not fall short. As it stands, Mayo's hiring is being greeted with cynicism with others saying Pats owner Robert Kraft should have looked outside the organization to replace Belichick.
Let's put it this way. Suppose Mayo guides the Pats to two Super Bowl titles. There's no guarantee Mayo will enjoy a winning season, but if he led the Pats to two Super Bowl titles that is still four fewer Vince Lombardi trophies than Belichick.
It will help Mayo that he has spent the better part of 15 years in Massachusetts and knows the weary ways of New England fans who have been spoiled with success. But now Mayo is sitting in the hot seat and will face the kind of scrutiny he never faced as a player or as a member of Belichick's coaching staff. It is all on Jerod Mayo and I wish him the best.
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