Jerod Mayo

Jerod Andrew Mayo Sr. was born on February 23, 1986, in Hampton, Virginia. He attended Kecoughtan High School, where he excelled in football as a linebacker and running back, demonstrating early leadership and athletic capabilities. His strong performance earned him a four-star recruit rating and he committed to the University of Tennessee, where he played for the Volunteers football team from 2004 to 2007. After redshirting his freshman year, Mayo quickly became a key defensive player, earning All-American second-team honors in 2006 and a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in 2007. His college career was marked by significant tackle numbers, including 140 tackles in his junior season.

Mayo’s professional playing career began in 2008 when he was drafted 10th overall by the New England Patriots in the NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact, starting in Week 1 and earning the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for October 2008, followed by the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Throughout his eight seasons with the Patriots, Mayo was a consistent defensive force and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. In 2010, he led the league in tackles with 175 and was named First-team All-Pro. He was also a member of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, although he was on injured reserve for that championship run. After retiring as a player in 2016, Mayo returned to the Patriots organization in 2019 as an inside linebackers coach.

His coaching career progressed within the Patriots, serving as inside linebackers coach until 2023. On January 12, 2024, Jerod Mayo was named the 15th head coach in New England Patriots franchise history, becoming the first Black head coach for the team. His tenure as head coach, however, was brief, concluding after his first season in January 2025 with a 4-13 record. Despite the short coaching stint, Mayo’s extensive playing and coaching career with a single franchise highlights his dedication to the sport and the New England Patriots.