Jerod Mayo Makes First Public Appearance Since Patriots Firing
Jerod Mayo finally stepped out of the darkness on Saturday.
Mayo, who was fired by the New England Patriots on Jan. 5, made his first public appearance in several months during an SEC matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee held a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter, but struggled to sustain momentum and missed a game-winning field goal attempt as time expired in regulation — eventually falling in overtime.
Mayo, of course, spent four seasons playing at Tennessee, where he was named First-Team All-SEC in 2007.
Mayo’s decision to stay out of the public eye has been understandable, as he was dropped like a bad habit just hours after coaching (and winning) New England’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
The Patriots entered that game in position to secure the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but slipped all the way to No. 4 after securing the unwanted victory.
Mayo doesn’t appear to have any interest in returning to coaching, though that could change after he’s given himself an opportunity to recharge the batteries. The NFL likely won’t be calling, but perhaps a move to the collegiate ranks could be in the cards?