The Patriots are 3-10 as they return from their bye week and they will miss the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons, but their head coach doesn’t have any doubts about the team being on the right track.
During an appearance on WEEI on Monday, Jerod Mayo was adamant that any struggles the team is experiencing this season will help to create a foundation for winning seasons in the future. Mayo said the Patriots will “be a better football team next year” and that his first year as a head coach is not indicative of what his overall tenure will look like.
“I know [I’ll be successful](https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/jerod-mayo-says-he-knows-hell-be-a-successful-head-coach), 100 percent,” Mayo said. “And look, you’re gonna go through these trying times. Like, that’s what it is. And the mark of a true leader is being able to navigate this and knowing that you’re going the right way. And I truly believe that we are going the right way. In the short term it may be disappointing, but in the long term we’re doing it the right way.”
There’s been no confirmation from team ownership that Mayo will be back in 2025, but Robert Kraft identified Mayo as the team’s post-Bill Belichick head coach some time ago and it would be surprising to see the Patriots pivot after one year given how much work needs to be done to build a winning roster in New England. Until that word does come, Mayo will have to keep selling the idea that the short-term pain will lead to the desired rewards.