Several factors — both due to Jerod Mayo and things out of the first-year coach's control — led to disaster for the Patriots in 2024.

One of the questions in the aftermath of Mayo's firing is the status of the front office, particularly vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. During the presser, Kraft not only illustrated that Wolf's job is safe, but noted that he, along with personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith, will help lead the team in their head coaching search.

When Robert Kraft hired Jerod Mayo a year ago, he felt he’d identified the right person to follow Bill Belichick.