Patriots follow succession plan: Jerod Mayo replaces Bill Belichick

(Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
Hand-picked successor Jerod Mayo was elevated to head coach by the New England Patriots on Friday, one day after the organization bid farewell to Bill Belichick.

Mayo, 37, was identified in 2023 as the coach-in-waiting as part of owner Robert Kraft's succession plan in the event Belichick wasn't retained.

The team made the official announcement Friday afternoon on social med