The New England Patriots had a plan in mind, and they stuck to it. Following their mutual split with head coach Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo was hired as the franchise’s new head coach.
Mayo, who had spent the previous five seasons coaching linebackers and serving as quasi-co-defensive coordinator under Belichick, was the choice to take over not just because of his connection to the franchise, however. He and the Patriots also put a stipulation into his contract last offseason that he would eventually become head coach one day.
One 4-13 season later, nothing has changed.