Mike Vrabel never has to worry about being the immediate coach right after Bill Belichick.
When Vrabel and the New England Patriots take the field at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 , Vrabel will have a chance to etch his name in New England football lore, alongside Belichick.
REQUIRED READING: Ranking 60 greatest Super Bowl moments in NFL history: Seahawks can't escape top play
Vrabel is in his first season as the head coach for the Patriots, making him the second coach since the franchise and the legendary coach parted ways in 2023. For New England, that means there was one coach in between Belichick and Vrabel: Jerod Mayo .
However, Mayo's stint in New England was significantly shorter than Belichick's, as he was fired after just one 4-13 season. Here's a look back at Mayo's departure from New England as the Patriots look for their first championship since 2018.
What happened to Jerod Mayo?
Mayo was hired by the Patriots on Jan. 12, 2024, after the team opted to part ways with Belichick. Mayo was the first Black coach in New England franchise history.
However, less than one year later, owner Robert Kraft opted to fire Mayo following a 4-13 first season. He was let go hours following the Patriots' season finale.
"The one thing that I and my family understand is that we own this team, but it's not like a traditional business," Kraft said on an appearance on The Quick Snap podcast. "I look at our family as custodians of a public asset.
"I'm very fond of Jerod, and I would say that was one of the one or two hardest decisions (I've had to make), because to fire a guy after one year – and by the way, it was very expensive, because there (was) not only his contract, but 25 other coaches. It's the worst financial implications since we've owned the team."
Mayo was the second New England head coach fired after just one season. The other was Rod Rust, who went 1-15 in 1990.
Where is Jerod Mayo now?
Following his firing from New England after one season as a head coach, Mayo did not find another coaching job for the 2025 season. He has also not been linked to any jobs so far during the 2026 offseason.
After he retired from playing football in 2016, Mayo spent three seasons away from football in the private sector before emerging with the New England Patriots as an inside linebackers coach.
Mayo made an appearance at his alma mater Tennessee for an SEC matchup between the Vols and Georgia at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025.







Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Washington 7): Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez (75) tackles Washington running back Larry Brown (43) in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dolphins completed a 17-0 undefeated season with the win.









Super Bowl XVI (49ers 26, Bengals 21): San Francisco 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott (42) celebrates a goal line stand against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl XVI at the Silverdome.

Super Bowl XVII (Washington 27, Dolphins 17): Washington running back John Riggins (44) breaks loose from Miami Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal (28) on a 43-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl.

Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Washington 9): Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen (32) carries the ball against Washington safety Mark Murphy (29) during Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium.




Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Broncos 10): Washington quarterback Doug Williams (17) looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium.


Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10) : San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) celebrates with teammates against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record.


Super Bowl XXVI (Washington 37, Bills 24): Washington cornerback Alvoid Mays (20) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12), causing him to fumble during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome.














Super Bowl XL (Steelers 21, Seahawks 10): Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward jumps in the air and scores after catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from fellow wideout Antwaan Randle El.











Super Bowl 51 (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hauls in a catch off a deflected pass that would help New England mount the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game also featured the first ever overtime in a Super Bowl.


Super Bowl 53 (Patriots 13, Rams 3): Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore makes a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, the Patriots tied the Steelers for most Super Bowl victories (six).

Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9): Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the football after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium.

Super Bowl 56 (Rams 23, Bengals 20): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches the game-winning touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple defends at SoFi Stadium.

Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs 38, Eagles 35): The Chiefs' Kadarius Toney (19) is tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles' Nakobe Dean (17) and Arryn Siposs (8) after a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return at State Farm Stadium.

Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs 25, 49ers 22, OT): Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers.


Super Bowl 60 (Seahawks 29, Patriots 13): Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills sacks Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defense sacked Maye six times in a 29-13 victory.
Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Washington 7): Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez (75) tackles Washington running back Larry Brown (43) in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dolphins completed a 17-0 undefeated season with the win.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XVI (49ers 26, Bengals 21): San Francisco 49ers defensive back Ronnie Lott (42) celebrates a goal line stand against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl XVI at the Silverdome.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XVII (Washington 27, Dolphins 17): Washington running back John Riggins (44) breaks loose from Miami Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal (28) on a 43-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Washington 9): Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen (32) carries the ball against Washington safety Mark Murphy (29) during Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Broncos 10): Washington quarterback Doug Williams (17) looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10) : San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) celebrates with teammates against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XXVI (Washington 37, Bills 24): Washington cornerback Alvoid Mays (20) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12), causing him to fumble during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl XL (Steelers 21, Seahawks 10): Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward jumps in the air and scores after catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from fellow wideout Antwaan Randle El.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 51 (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hauls in a catch off a deflected pass that would help New England mount the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game also featured the first ever overtime in a Super Bowl.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 53 (Patriots 13, Rams 3): Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore makes a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, the Patriots tied the Steelers for most Super Bowl victories (six).

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9): Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the football after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 56 (Rams 23, Bengals 20): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches the game-winning touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple defends at SoFi Stadium.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs 38, Eagles 35): The Chiefs' Kadarius Toney (19) is tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles' Nakobe Dean (17) and Arryn Siposs (8) after a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return at State Farm Stadium.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs 25, 49ers 22, OT): Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers.

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday

Super Bowl photos: Most memorable moments from Super Sunday
Super Bowl 60 (Seahawks 29, Patriots 13): Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills sacks Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defense sacked Maye six times in a 29-13 victory.
Jerod Mayo career record
Mayo went 4-13 in his lone season as an NFL head coach. Though he was fired after just one season with New England ― where he had spent the previous five years coaching linebackers ― at 39, he still has a shot to get hired elsewhere.
Patriots coach after Jerod Mayo
Following Mayo's firing, Vrabel was hired as the 16th head coach for the franchise on Jan. 12, 2025. Unlike Mayo, he brought prior head coaching experience to New England.
Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023, leading the franchise to a 54-45 record, including three playoff appearances. However, the Titans were 13-21 in his final two seasons, leading to his eventual ouster as the head coach.
He spent the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Jerod Mayo? Revisiting 2025 split with Patriots
