New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots HC clears up executive's perceived shot at Bill Belichick

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 2/28/24

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo cleared up on Wednesday what some are perceiving as a shot at Bill Belichick taken by director of scouting Eliot Wolf on Tuesday.

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf sideswiped Bill Belichick with a comment about the team’s new culture: https://t.co/iPJYiSUERQ pic.twitter.com/JpupGUyBvY
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 28, 2024

Jerod Mayo made it a point to say that just because they’re changing culture and have different philosophies, it doesn’t mean they’re taking shots at Bill Belichick.

They want to replicate the success but are trying it a different way.
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 28, 2024

Jerod Mayo: I feel confident about our plan to really turn this ship around. Honestly, the way I think about this stuff, it’s been done a certain way at a high level for what? 20 years. I would also say there’s one way to skin a cat. It worked for coach. We’ll see what works for…
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 28, 2024

Jerod Mayo: "Look, it’s going to be different. At the same time, I would say Bill did a great job for a long period of time. I don’t want you guys to take this as, because we’re changing, shots at the previous regime. In saying that, we will do it differently. It’ll feel…
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 28, 2024

Wolf has been with the Patriots since 2020, serving as a scouting consultant for the first two years with the organization. Wolf was promoted to director of scouting in 2022 and became the de facto general manager in early February.

Belichick had been the team's GM since he was hired in 2000.

New England and the three-time AP Coach of the Year mutually agreed to part ways on Jan. 11 and Mayo was hired as the replacement the following day.

With Wolf now in charge of personnel decisions, it's clear that the Patriots have a lot of work to do, particularly on offense to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.

The team finished 31st in points per game (13.9) during the 2023 campaign and has the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft, where Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels could be available.

New England hired former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt for the same role earlier this winter after Bill O'Brien departed for the head-coaching job at Boston College.

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