Jerod Mayo began his coaching career as inside linebackers coach with the New England Patriots in 2019. Under Mayo's tutelage in his first coaching season, Dont'a Hightower earned his second career Pro Bowl nod after the eight-year veteran totaled 71 tackles, 5½ sacks, four passes defensed and one fumble returned for a touchdown as part of a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game).
In 2022, the Patriots defense finished ranked 8th and tied for second with San Francisco with 30 total takeaways. Mayo guided Matthew Judon to reach career high sack totals in back-to-back seasons after recording 12½ in 2021 and 15½ in 2022. The 15½ sacks rank third in team history and his 102.5 sack yards rank first in team history. Judon earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl invitation and second straight with the Patriots. He also earned PFWA-All-AFC Team honors and was named the Week 5 AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Mayo also guided Josh Uche to new career highs in 2022. Uche finished with a career high 11½ sacks for 49.5 yards. He had six sacks in a three-game span, second most in team history. Uche earned AFC Player of the Week in Week 14 after his three sack performance against Arizona.
Mayo was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 draft and spent his entire NFL career in New England, retiring following the 2015 season. Mayo played linebacker and appeared in 103 games during his career, racking up 905 total tackles. He was named captain for seven consecutive seasons (2009-15) and is a 2014 Super Bowl Champion. Mayo made the Pro Bowl after the 2012 and 2010 seasons where he led the league in tackles and made the 2010 Associated Press All-Pro First Team. He led the Patriots in total tackles in each of his first five seasons and became just the second Patriots player to win the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mayo played collegiately at Tennessee from 2005-07 and appeared in 32 games, registering 236 total tackles.
Jerod Mayo was born Feb. 23, 1986, in Hampton, Virginia. Mayo worked in finance for Optum prior to his return to the NFL. Jerod's brother, Deron, joined the Patriots organization in 2018 as a strength & conditioning assistant coach. Jerod is the father to three daughters, Chya, Chyanne and Chylo, and a son, Jerod Jr.
