6 rings: Reaction to the first "Mayo Monday," the latest on the Patriots' coordinators search, & reaction to Divisional weekend
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo spent the last five seasons as New England’s linebackers coach.
From 2019-23, he never once got a title change, something he seemingly thought did him no favors as a candidate on the coaching market.
“For people or teams that are looking at me, I would say look at the body of work,” the then-assistant under Bill Belichick said back in November when asked if he felt this past year was a head-coaching tryout. “Obviously don’t look at the title of ‘assistant linebackers coach’, but look at the body of work.”
Now that he's become a head coach and has the ability to build his own staff, Mayo was asked at his introductory press conference if he plans to name coordinators in 2024:
"I think it's important," he explained. "I think titles are important, and I know -- no knock to Coach Belichick, who has been a huge mentor to me over the years as a player and as a colleague, what I would say is I believe titles are important outward-looking..."
He continued: "But as far as in the building, I don't care what your title is. It's what's your job, what value do you bring to the organization. I think that's the most important thing. Sometimes I think in business, in sports, people get caught up in titles, but I also understand the other side. If you want to continue to get promoted, people have to know exactly what you do."
Long story short, Mayo will be hiring coordinators this winter and, during his first-ever appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Monday, said that he sort of has autonomy over who he hires:
"It’s all me," he explained when asked if the Krafts will be involved in their assistant coach searches. "It’s all me at this point. I would say-- not all me, also Matt Groh, Eliot [Wolf], they’re really helping out. So it's good."
So, with Jerod Mayo and a select few in the front office well on their way to building a new Patriots coaching staff, here’s what the search looks like so far:
Offensive coordinator
The Patriots conducted their first interview for offensive coordinator on Monday with Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley, something Mayo confirmed on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show. Caley coached in New England for eight seasons, from 2015-22, before heading to the West Coast to coach under Sean McVay in Los Angeles this past year. He’s been a tight ends coach since 2017 - something former Patriots offensive line coach and team Hall of Famer Dante Scarnecchia said makes for a good OC: “When you coach the tight ends, you’re coaching a position that transcends the entire offense. He’s involved in the passing game, so Nick has been in every passing-game meeting. And the run game, so he’s been in every run-game meeting.”
The Patriots will also reportedly interview Rams passing game coordinator and quarterback coach Zac Robinson on Tuesday.
Robinson, a quarterback at Oklagoma State from 2005-2009, was drafted by the Patriots in seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft and, after a four-year career and five years out of football, returned to the NFL in 2019 - this time as a coach.
The 37-year-old has worked on the Rams’ offensive staff since 2019, serving as assistant quarterbacks coach ('19), assistant wide receivers coach (2020), and passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2021-present).
Currently one of the most coveted offensive coordinator candidates on the market, Robinson interviewed with the Bears for their opening last week (which has since been filled by Shane Waldron) and also has requests in from the Steelers and Raiders as well.
He's not the only one interviewing with the Patriots on Tuesday, however. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher will also interview with New England on Tuesday via Zoom.
Pitcher has worked on Cincinnati's offensive staff since 2016, and has been Bengals star signal caller Joe Burrow's quarterbacks coach since he was drafted in 2020.
Caley, Robinson, and Pitcher are the only three reported Patriots OC interviews thus far.
Defensive coordinator
Moving to the defensive side of the ball, Mayo has reportedly conducted (or will conduct) interviews with Tem Lukabu, Christian Parker, Michael Hodges, and DeMarcus Covington for their defensive coordinator position. Here’s a bit about each candidate:
– Tem Lukabu, Panthers LBs coach
Two days prior to his introductory press conference, it was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Jerod Mayo was set to interview Lukabu for his defensive coordinator position.
Lukabu has worked at both the college and NFL level, with stops and jobs that include linebackers coach at URI from 2008-09, linebackers coach at Mississippi State in 2019, and defensive coordinator at Boston College from 2020-22. Prior to working under BC Eagles head coach Jeff Hafley in Chestnut Hill, he worked alongside him as a defensive quality control coach with the 49ers in 2017. While at Mississippi State, Lukabu worked with now-star OLB/defensive end Montez Sweat.
He is currently the Carolina Panthers’ outside linebackers coach.
– Christian Parker, Broncos DBs coach
The Friday following his introductory presser, Mayo interviewed Broncos DBs coach Christian Parker, a young coach dubbed a “fast riser” by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
If selected, Parker would be one of the NFL’s youngest coordinators at just 32 years old. He’s been with Denver since 2021, and was a defensive quality control coach with the Packers from 2019-20.
Parker also coached at Virginia State (defensive backs coach), Norfolk State (defensive backs coach), Notre Dame (defensive analyst), and Texas A&M (defensive analyst) before his jump to the NFL.
Currently, he coaches one of the best cornerbacks in football in Patrick Surtain II.
– Michael Hodges, Saints LBs coach
It was also reported last Friday that the Patriots will interview Michael Hodges for the coordinator position. Hodges is currently the Saints linebackers coach and, as Ian Rapoport pointed out, has been a huge part in New Orleans’ top-10 scoring defense in each of the last four seasons.
Prior to joining the Saints in 2017, the 37-year-old coached at Texas A&M (strength and conditioning assistant), Fresno State (graduate assistant), and Eastern Illinois (Linebackers coach, co-defensive coordinator & safeties coach).
– DeMarcus Covington, Patriots DL coach
And who was he co-defensive coordinator with at Eastern Illinois, you ask? None other than DeMarcus Covington. The Patriots’ defensive line coach, and lone in-house candidate, he’ll also reportedly interview for the defensive coordinator job.
Covington, 34, was named to NFL.com's list of young NFL coaches to watch last November, and worked as New England's defensive coordinator when they coached at the East-West Shrine Bowl last January. He’s been a part of the Patriots’ defensive coaching staff alongside Jerod Mayo since 2017.
——
Speaking of the defense, both Steve and Brian Belichick, per Mayo himself, “have the option to stay [or] they have the option to go with their father if they would like to. Still kind of going through it. I have a good relationship with both of ‘em. They’re great coaches. We’ll see what happens.”
Special teams coordinator
And lastly, special teams.
After putting together one of the worst special teams units in football in 2023 under coordinator Cam Achord, the Patriots will likely have someone else running the show in 2024.
To date, Jerod Mayo and the Patriots have three candidates to be their special teams coordinator next season. They’ve already interviewed former Giants ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey, have a meeting set up with Rams assistant ST coach Jeremy Springer, and also have a request in to interview current Falcons ST coordinator Marquice Williams.
McGaughey, 50, is the most experienced of the bunch having coached in the NFL since 2001. He’s served as the special teams coordinator for the University of Houston (2003-2004), LSU Tigers (2011-2013), New York Jets (2014), San Francisco 49ers (2015), Carolina Panthers, and most recently the New York Giants. He was fired by coach Brian Daboll on Jan. 8.
Springer, a former linebacker and special teamer at UTEP from 2007-11, is in his second season coaching with the Rams. Prior to landing in L.A., he spent eight years coaching in college at UTEP, Texas A&M, Arizona, and Marshall.
Williams, 38, has worked in the NFL since 2013, having coached with the Bears, Lions (2x), and the Chargers. He was hired as Detroit's assistant special teams coach under former Patriots coach Matt Patricia. He’s been Atlanta’s special teams coordinator since 2021.
——
So there you have it. Every reported coordinator interview for the Patriots to date. As reports of candidate meetings continue over the coming weeks, we'll have you covered here at WEEI.com. Make sure to follow along.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
Related
