Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski voiced his disapproval of the New England Patriots' decision to fire head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season at the helm. Mayo's tenure, which began following Bill Belichick's departure, concluded with a 4-13 record. Despite the team's struggles, Gronkowski argued that Mayo deserved more time to grow into the role.
Speaking on FOX, Gronkowski expressed surprise at the swift decision, stating, "I was shocked by that. It was unfair to Coach Mayo. He hadn't had a real opportunity to develop as a head coach; he was essentially a rookie in that position. Judging a coach solely on their first year isn't appropriate."
Gronkowski, who was Mayo's teammate for several years in New England, highlighted the challenging circumstances Mayo faced. The Patriots entered the season as longshots for the playoffs, starting rookie quarterback Drake Maye after several weeks. The team's offensive struggles were evident, ranking near the bottom of the league in points scored and yards gained. While their defense performed relatively better, it wasn't enough to salvage the season.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft explained the decision in a statement, acknowledging the difficulty of dismissing Mayo but citing the team's lack of improvement throughout the season.
