Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new era is on the horizon in Foxborough.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft spoke to the media for the first time after firing first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, where he shouldered the blame for the unsuccessful season.
"This whole situation is on me," Kraft said. "I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation ... he just needed more time before taking the job."
The Patriots finished with a 4-13 record in Mayo's first and only season in charge. The team had two separate six-game losing streaks and scored the third-lowest points per game despite promising signs from young players like Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez.
Kraft said while the Week 1 win over the Bengals showed promise for Mayo and the season, things quickly began to unravel as the season went on.
"Over the last month, I went back and forth," Kraft said. "I guess just the main thing for me is I guess we regressed ... I don't like losing and I don't like losing the way we lost."
Mayo was the team's first coach after the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways with long-time, legendary head coach Bill Belichick last year. As for a replacement, New England has been linked with names like former Patriots linebacker and Tennesse Titans coach Mike Vrabel and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Kraft, however, did not tip his hand on who the Patriots might be interested in to replace Mayo.
"There are some wonderful people that we've heard about so I would rather respond to that after I've seen everyone," Kraft said.
In the Patriots locker room, the mood was somber as players cleaned out their lockers. While not every player wanted to address Mayo's departure, team captain Deatrich Wise Jr. spoke up.
"It was a sad day, no one wanted to see him leave," Wise said. We didn't know he was fired until after the game."
Mayo and Wise both worked together from 2019 to 2025 after Mayo joined the Patriots coaching staff as a defensive coach. Wise said he wished he could have had a chance to say goodbye.
"Every time he came into the room he brought a light and a good energy," Wise said. "I feel like he held us together throughout the whole season."
The Patriots will now focus on finding Mayo's successor.
WBZ's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.