Jerod Mayo was a franchise player in New England. He played eight seasons in the NFL, all with the Patriots, and totaled 802 career tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. He also earned two Pro Bowl selections and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2010, when he led the league with 174 tackles.
He was captain of the Patriots for seven of his eight seasons and an impact player on the 2014 Super Bowl team. Throughout his career in New England, he was regarded as one of, if not the best, players on defense and was a big reason for the Patriots' defensive success in the early 2010s.
This past offseason, the Patriots moved on from future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick and hired Mayo as the franchise's 15th head coach. The Patriots defense hasn't missed a step since Mayo joined the staff in 2019 and will now have the opportunity to lead as the franchise's next head coach.