Robert Kraft drops hint about potential Bill Belichick successor
Nov 18, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks on the field before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft dropped a fairly big hint about who might ultimately succeed Bill Belichick as head coach down the line.
In an interview with NFL Network on Monday, Kraft singled out Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo as a potential Belichick successor. Kraft added that he thinks Mayo’s coaching career has no ceiling.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in an interview with NFL Network, said he views LB coach Jerod Mayo as a potential heir apparent to Bill Belichick. Kraft believes no ceiling to Mayo’s career.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 27, 2023
Hearing Mayo touted this way is not a huge surprise.
The Patriots think very highly of the former linebacker, and that was conveyed in how they announced some key news about him earlier in the offseason. Mayo has also received head coaching interest elsewhere, but has notably turned it down to stay with New England.
It is doubtful Mayo has any guarantees that the head coaching job is his when Belichick steps aside, but it does not take a genius to figure out that he would probably be the choice as things stand. He played for New England for eight seasons and has coached for them since 2019. They clearly like what they see.
