Patriots hire Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick as head coach

One day after parting ways with long-time head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots tabbed Jerod Mayo as the franchise's next head coach.

Mayo, 37, will be introduced next week and will become the youngest head coach in the NFL.

Mayo spent his entire eight-year NFL career in New England under Belichick and joined his staff in 2019 when he took on the role of inside linebackers coach.

The Patriots, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, were able to hire Mayo so quickly and bypass the regular NFL hiring process because there was a succession plan established in the extension Mayo signed last year. Having that plan in place, the Patriots would not have to satisfy the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview two minority candidates for an open coaching role. Mayo will be the first African American to be head coach of the Patriots.

https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-hire-jerod-mayo-to-replace-bill-belichick-as-head-coach-134627304.html