\n<\/p>\n
After the 2024 season, Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired coach Jerod Mayo, after only one year on the job. Given the success of the team with Mike Vrabel in charge, Kraft\u2019s decision has been vindicated.<\/p>\n
Still, it wasn\u2019t easy. Appearing on The Quick Snap<\/i> podcast with David Andrew and Brian Hoyer, Kraft explained the dilemma he confronted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very fond of Jerod, and I would say that was one of the one or two hardest decisions [I\u2019ve had to make], because to fire a guy after one year — and by the way, it was very expensive, because there [was] not only his contract, but 25 other coaches,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cIt\u2019s the worst financial implications since we\u2019ve owned the team<\/a><\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n Kraft realized that he had no choice but to make a change.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a fan first, and I thought, \u2018I can\u2019t — this just isn\u2019t the right situation,\u2019 and that\u2019s on me,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cJerod\u2019s a great guy, but I just didn\u2019t want to go through a continuation of what happened. And I really believed that hiring Mike gave us a chance, quickly, to put the team where it was to go from 4-13 to now 15-3.\u201d<\/p>\n Kraft was influenced by the fact that it\u2019s about more than the balance sheet.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one thing that I and my family understand is that we own this team, but it\u2019s not like a traditional business,\u201d Kraft said. \u201cI look at our family as custodians of a public asset.\u201d<\/p>\n Not enough owners view it that way. It\u2019s a profit center, in their estimation. And Kraft\u2019s interpretation of his obligation surely has something to do with the success of the franchise during his time as owner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n