Since the Patriots were not looking for a coach this year, they still haven’t conducted a real hunt for their sideline leader since they agreed to pay the Jets compensation for the transfer of Bill Belichick in 2000. Their efforts to succeed the greatest coach of all time were interesting, even if they didn’t contribute much to PFR’s latest HC Search Tracker.

Instead of conducting a comprehensive interview process, the Patriots added a phrase in Jerod Mayos contract which makes him the presumptive heir. Robert Kraft confirmed that this has been his plan for some time. The longtime Patriots owner revealed on Prime Video Thursday Night that Mayo was his choice to succeed Belichick five years ago.

“Jerod learned a lot from Bill on the technical side,” Kraft said. “But each of them is a special person. I’ve gotten to know Jerod over the last 15 years and named him our next head coach five years ago.”

Belichick and the Patriots parted ways amicably after the 2023 season, ending his 24-year tenure as the team’s head coach and de facto general manager. While it was unknown in the NFL world outside of the team that the Patriots had Mayo as their safe bet, the team was the first to name a new coach during this year’s carousel.

Selected with the No. 10 overall pick in 2008, Mayo performed well under Belichick as a player and assistant. As a starting inside linebacker, Mayo was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mayo spent his entire eight-year playing career in New England under Belichick, retiring after battling injuries in his final seasons, which included a victory in Super Bowl XLIX.

Belichick hired Mayo as his inside linebackers coach in 2019, a position he held until being promoted to head coach earlier this year. Mayo quickly earned Kraft’s trust, as evidenced by the owner identifying him as his next leader in his first year, but he also gained attention around the league as a potential future head coach.

After interviewing with the Broncos, Eagles and Raiders for their 2021-22 head coaching vacancies, Kraft was so concerned about losing Mayo that, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, he inserted a succession clause into his former linebacker’s contract to guarantee that Mayo would succeed Belichick after Belichick left New England. Mayo declined an interview with the Panthers HC last year, and the Patriots released a statement saying he would stay. Kraft confirmed in March 2023 that Mayo was being considered as a potential successor to Belichick, and while ties to Mike Vrabel At the end of last season, it does not seem as if the owner has deviated from his long-held internal plan.

The succession clause allowed the Patriots to circumvent the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to interview at least two outside minority candidates for open HC positions. Roger Goodell (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com) called the succession clause “smart management” on the part of the Patriots, who hired Mayo on Jan. 12 as the first black head coach in franchise history.

Mayo began his career as a head coach with an upset win over the Bengals in Week 1 before losing to the Seahawks in overtime in Week 2. While the Patriots didn’t enter this season with great expectations, Mayo will look to reward the owner’s faith in his first season at the helm.