Rob Gronkowski ripped the Patriots' decision to fire Jerod Mayo after 1 season
Rob Gronkowski appeared to be upset with the way the New England Patriots handled Jerod Mayo's first season as head coach by firing him Sunday following a win over the Buffalo Bills.
Mayo was hired to replace Bill Belichick last year after the head coach and organization parted ways following six Super Bowls and two reigns.
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New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks at the scoreboard during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Dis. 22, 2024. (Photos by Mark Konezny-Imagn)
The Patriots struggled in Mayo's first season, finishing 4-13. But Gronkowski expressed his disbelief that Mayo has enough time to develop as a coach.
“That shocked me. And that happened so soon shocked a lot of people,” he told FOX. “Especially here at the desk, I think we're all surprised by that. I think it was wrong to coach Jerod Mayo. He never had a chance to develop as a coach.
“He was a rookie himself in this department. If you're judging a coach in his first year, that's really unfair.”
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Rob Gronkowski at Fox Sports media day at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona, Feb. 7, 2023. (Kirby Lee-USA Today Sports)
Mayo and Gronkowski were teammates for several years with the Patriots.
The Patriots were far from playoff contention entering this season. New England drafted rookie quarterback Drake Maye in the first round and didn't start until a few weeks into the regular season.
New England was 30th in points scored and 31st in yards gained, while finishing 22nd in points and yards allowed.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Mayo's decision after the Patriots' win.
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New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo shakes hands with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
“After the game I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Kraft said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team that played throughout the season did not increase as much as I wished.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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