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| Jerod Mayo | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jerod Mayo |
| Birth date | 27 November 1986 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in |
| Weight | 248 lb |
| College | Boston College |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Draftyear | 2008 |
| Draftpick | 10 |
| Pastteams | New England Patriots (2008–2015) |
| Highlights | Pro Bowl (2010); Butkus Award finalist; New England Patriots Hall of Fame inductee |
Jerod Mayo Jerod Mayo is a former American professional football linebacker and current coach, known for a playing career with the New England Patriots and subsequent coaching roles within the same organization. Mayo established himself as a defensive leader through collegiate success at Boston College and earned recognition in the National Football League after being selected in the 2008 NFL Draft. Transitioning into coaching, he joined a Patriots staff that included figures from Bill Belichick’s coaching tree and contributed to defensive schemes alongside personnel from the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks influences.
Mayo was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the Bronx, attending Erasmus Hall High School's feeder systems and later transferring to Cranston High School West in Cranston, Rhode Island and Tampa, Florida preparatory programs. He played multiple positions for high school teams that competed against programs from Florida High School Athletic Association powerhouses and New England rivals such as teams from Massachusetts and Rhode Island. During his high school career Mayo drew recruiting attention from major programs including Penn State University, University of Miami (FL), University of Florida, Florida State University, and Syracuse University. Scouts compared him to successful linebackers who excelled at Rutgers University and University of Pittsburgh, and his performance in regional combines put him on watch lists that also included names from USC Trojans and Texas Longhorns recruiting classes.
Mayo attended Boston College, where he played under head coach Jeff Jagodzinski followed by staff leaders connected to Tom Coughlin’s coaching lineage and defensive coordinators who had worked with ACC programs. At Boston College Mayo emerged as a tackling machine, compiling leading tackle totals in seasons that placed him alongside alumni such as Luke Kuechly and Mathieu-era standouts referenced by regional media covering Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. He received conference recognition in the Atlantic Coast Conference and earned invitations to postseason showcases that similarly featured prospects bound for the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl. Mayo’s film was evaluated by personnel directors from franchises including New England Patriots, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys, who noted his instincts, play-calling ability, and special-teams contributions.
Mayo was selected tenth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, joining a roster coached by Bill Belichick with veterans such as Tom Brady, Wes Welker, and defensive players who had learned under schemers from Bill Parcells’ trees. As a rookie he earned snaps on special teams and situational defense, working alongside linebackers tied to the Patriots’ lineage like Tedy Bruschi and veterans mentored by coordinators with experience from Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns staffs. By his second season Mayo became a starting middle linebacker, recording career highs in tackles and earning a selection to the Pro Bowl after a season that featured notable games versus opponents such as the New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Indianapolis Colts. His playmaking included sideline-to-sideline tackles and pass-coverage stops that were highlighted in analyses by outlets tracking ESPN draft histories and NFL Network scouting commentaries. Mayo’s playing career was curtailed by injuries, including a significant knee injury sustained in a contest against teams like Miami Dolphins competitors, which ultimately led to his retirement as a player and transition into coaching.
Following retirement, Mayo returned to the New England Patriots organization as part of the coaching staff, joining a program that has connections to coaching trees from Bill Belichick, Charlie Weis, and assistants with ties to University of Michigan and Ohio State University staffs. He served initially in positional and assistant roles, coaching linebackers and contributing to defensive game plans against AFC opponents such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. Mayo rose through the ranks to hold coordinator responsibilities, working with defensive assistants who had backgrounds with San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks defensive philosophies. His coaching tenure has been noted for instilling techniques derived from his playing days and from schematic influences spanning franchises like New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
Mayo is married and maintains ties to communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, participating in charitable initiatives with organizations similar to those partnered by Patriots players and alumni, and engaging in youth mentorship programs connected to foundations in Boston and Hartford, Connecticut. He has been involved in public appearances at events featuring former teammates from New England Patriots Super Bowl rosters and alumni reunions that include figures from Super Bowl XLIX and other championship games. Mayo’s post-playing interests include football analytics circles and speaker appearances alongside figures associated with NFLPA and collegiate programs such as Boston College.
Mayo’s honors include selection to the Pro Bowl (2010), team-level recognitions from the New England Patriots organization, and collegiate accolades from Boston College and the Atlantic Coast Conference. He appeared on award watch lists and received commendations comparable to those bestowed by organizations such as the Associated Press and regional sports halls of fame. Mayo has been acknowledged in team histories, alumni publications, and former-player honors that catalog contributions to successful Patriots seasons and Patriots organizational records.
Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Boston College Eagles football players Category:New England Patriots players Category:National Football League coaches