Rob Gronkowski cut mid-way by FOX just when he was about to seemingly call Robert Kraft out for firing Jerod Mayo

Jerod Mayo had become the 15th head coach of the New England Patriots taking over Bill Belichick who led the Patriots to six championships.

Rob Gronkowski cut mid-way by FOX just when he was about to seemingly call Robert Kraft out for firing Jerod Mayo

Robert Kraft, Jerod Mayo, Rob Gronkowski (Images via Open Source/FOX)

As the Week 18 concluded, New England Patriots finished the season with four wins including a win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Patriots finished yet another season out of the playoffs – a result that led to GM Robert Kraft firing first-year coach Jerod Mayo.

The NFL keeps getting more and more results oriented and chases instant successes, Mayo’s firing isn’t surprising. The trend could be dangerous considering that this could hinder development and leads to a trend where the coaches are forced to make a playoff team in one year.

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New England Patriots legend Rob Gronkowski reportedly went off the Patriots management for their controversial decision. Gronkowski, who spent seven seasons with the Patriots, was however cut off before he was able to conclude his thoughts.

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Rob Gronkowski expressed surprise on Fox Sports Sunday night, stating he did not expect the Patriots to dismiss head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season.

I was surprised by that. No doubt, I mean, rookie head coach, the roster that he was handed wasn’t that prominent — it’s tough. It’s a tough situation in New England. Obviously Mr. Kraft didn’t see Jerod Mayo being that culture builder that he was hoping to be over the last season.

Rob Gronkowski said

Jerod Mayo guided the Patriots to a rather dismal 4-13 record after succeeding longtime head coach Bill Belichick before the 2024 season. Gronkowski referenced fellow panelist and former NFL head coach Jimmy Johnson as an example of a leader who faced early challenges but found success. Johnson’s first season with the 1989 Dallas Cowboys ended with a 1-15 record, but he later led the team to consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993.

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Jerod Mayo isn’t the sole reason why the Patriots are 4-13 in 2024

Jerod Mayo isn’t solely to blame for the disastrous 2024 season for the New England Patriots. Owner Robert Kraft and VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf also share significant responsibility. Mayo was put in an almost impossible situation, tasked with replacing Bill Belichick and inheriting one of the NFL’s weakest rosters. Even Belichick managed only four wins with a similar lineup in 2023, yet the Patriots expected a first-year head coach to outperform him?

Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo (Image via Skysports)

Mayo, who lacked experience as both a coordinator and a head coach, was thrust into a role he wasn’t prepared for. Kraft’s long-term vision had a critical misstep—since the beginning: the timeline was accelerated. Compounding the problem, Wolf failed to address key roster gaps, notably neglecting to acquire a true left tackle in the offseason. Instead, the team relied on makeshift solutions using converted guards and right tackles, which left the offensive line vulnerable.

Although a series of front-office blunders set Mayo up for failure, there were some huge failures from his side as well. There were some poor clock management issues and the play callings were less entertaining. Mayo calling out the team, ‘soft’ at one point wasn’t something that reverberated nice with critics as well.

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