In un-New England Patriots fashion, they now have their third head coach in as many seasons (and less than 13 calendar months).
After Bill Belichick manned the sidelines for 24 seasons, the two parted ways in early 2024, joining Jerod Mayo to replace arguably the greatest coach of all time.
After a 4-13 season, however, Kraft didn’t like what he saw, fired Mayo and hired Mike Vrabel, who was vacant last season.
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Jerod Mayo (51) of the New England Patriots congratulates Vince Wilfork during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Jan. 2, 2011. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Vince Wilfork doesn’t deny that the Patriots are in a better place today than they were two weeks ago, but echoing former teammate Rob Gronkowski’s thoughts on the matter, Wilfork said Tuesday that Mayo “never had a chance” and that it was the whole thing. a “setup”.
“I think it was BS to pull that. And knowing Jerod personally, I know the conversations,” Wilfork told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview. “I know what it is. It’s just hard to fathom, but that’s the thing when you deal with certain people. I think it was unfair.”
Wilfork noted that Mayo coached “the same s—-y roster” that Belichick made and “sucked” with.
“So what do you think Mayo was [going to] do with the same people that Bill brought? Mayo is the one who found the future quarterback in Drake Maye. It’s just a shame. But it’s part of the game, part of the business,” Wilfork said.
Wilfork spoke to Pakinomist Digital at an event promoting Tums as he works to stop heartburn when people stuff their faces at their Super Bowl parties. Tums and DraftKings recently partnered to allow fans to use the app for their Fantasy Foodball Pool, where players can draw their perfect game day plates for free for a share of the cash prizes.
Jerod Mayo (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
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“Tums goes hand in hand with food and what they tried to do with Foodball, it’s a perfect collaboration. … When you have football and DraftKings and the chance to win something, it keeps it fun,” Wilfork said. “You can do this with your friends, have fun, and everything is themed from food. Something competitive, but it’s easy. We’re talking about food. It’s a great way to bring people together. Food, sports, football, that’s what it’s all about.”
Despite letting Mayo go, Wilfork said Vrabel is the best guy to get his former Patriots “back on track.”
“I’m very happy for Vrabel. I played with Vrabel. He coached me down in Houston – a good friend. I know he checks all the boxes when it comes to running the team. Hopefully he can get us back on track. “It’s time for us to get on track. He’s a good person to get us back on track, but it has a lot to do with that roster,” Wilfork said.
Wilfork played in Super Bowls with both Mayo and Vrabel on the same defensive unit and considers them both good friends. Perhaps you could say it’s an odd situation for Wilfork, but he mentioned that it’s “not awkward … just the facts.”
“It has nothing to do with Vrabel as a coach or a person. I think he’s phenomenal. He’s the best coach I would have had. I just think it was unfair for Mayo to go through what he went through,” he said.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots talks with head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans before their preseason game in Nashville, Tenn., on Aug. 17, 2019. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
“I don’t question Vrabel’s ability. I know he can win. He showed that with Tennessee going to the AFC Championship his first year. I know what a great coach Vrabel is. I don’t question that at all .I am very happy and excited that the Patriots are landing Vrabel.
“I just think it’s unfair what Mayo had to go through. He didn’t have a chance. It was bullcrap from the start and it’s a lot of backstabbing going on. … We’ll see what happens. It’s all part of the game I guess, but it’s unfair any way you cut it, he never had a chance.”
