Fire Mayo Chant Breaks Out at Gillette Stadium Amidst Loss
Fans expressed their frustration with coach Jerod Mayo during a tough game against the Chargers, chanting for his dismissal.
Gillette Stadium, Chargers, Jerod Mayo, NFL, New England, Bill Belichick
Foxborough: So, during a rough game against the Chargers, fans really let their feelings be known. In the fourth quarter, with the game pretty much over, they started chanting “Fire Mayo!” It was a tough scene.
Coach Jerod Mayo heard the chants and responded, saying fans paid for their seats and that the team needs to play better. He’s got a point, but the team’s performance has been lacking.
It’s not all on Mayo, though. The roster he inherited from Bill Belichick isn’t great. Belichick had a rough last couple of years, winning only 12 out of 34 games. That’s a tough legacy to follow.
Belichick was great at coaching but struggled with personnel decisions. After Tom Brady left, things really fell apart. Now, Mayo is left dealing with the aftermath of those choices.
Still, Mayo’s job isn’t guaranteed. He’s made some questionable comments this season, like calling his team “soft.” Plus, he said running back Rhamondre Stevenson wouldn’t start due to fumbles, but then he did start. That’s a bit confusing.
Coaching in the NFL is all about handling big moments and the little details. Unfortunately, Mayo has stumbled on those little things too often this year. It makes you wonder if the team made a mistake promoting him so quickly.
Now, the big question is what Robert Kraft will do. Firing Mayo could look like admitting a mistake in hiring him. But maybe he just needs more time to figure things out.
However, teams that are smart don’t just stick with mistakes. They recognize when it’s time to make a change. Following Belichick was never going to be easy, and if Mayo gets fired after just one season, the next coach will face the same shadow.
It’s a tough situation. On one hand, it’s the price of two decades of success. On the other hand, you have to ask if Mayo can ever reach the level of excellence Belichick had. If it seems like he can’t, then maybe a change is needed.
Especially with Brian Flores, a former Belichick assistant, possibly looking for another head coaching gig. It’s a complicated situation for sure.