Patriots staffer considered 'strong candidate' to replace Bill Belichick: report

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The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick have agreed to mutually part ways after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles, and now everyone wants to know who will succeed arguably the greatest head football coach of all time. 

It seems someone on the Patriots’ staff is the frontrunner. 

Jerod Mayo, the Patriots linebackers coach and a former linebacker under Belichick, is a "strong candidate" to replace Belichick, the NFL Network reported.

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Coach Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots during a game at State Farm Stadium Dec. 12, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Patriots reportedly have a "firm, contractual succession plan" to make Mayo the team’s next head coach, which the NFL already knows about. It's something that's happened in the past, the NFL Network noted. Jim Mora similarly succeeded Mike Holmgren as the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach in 2009. 

The Patriots announced last year around this time that Mayo received a contract extension that would "keep him with the team long-term." Apparently, there is language in the deal if Belichick was on his way out. 

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After going 4-13 this season, Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft are parting ways.

Kraft already mentioned in the past that Mayo would be a strong candidate to succeed Belichick.

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo talk on the sidelines in the fourth quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins