“He looks so comfortable in that role.”
Former Patriots offensive lineman Matt Light knows current head coach Jerod Mayo better than most: Light played alongside the ex-All-Pro linebacker for four seasons in Foxborough.
So when asked what he thinks of Mayo’s prospects as the Patriots’ replacement for six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick, Light told “The Quick Snap” podcast on Monday he has plenty of personal experience showing Mayo will be up for the task.
“From the second he set foot in that facility (in 2008), that dude was a coach,” the former Pats left tackle told co-hosts Brian Hoyer and David Andrews. “People are born to do certain things … the way he took to coaching was so natural. For him to be doing what’s doing today – I’ve said this about two guys I’ve played with: Mike Vrabel and Jerod Mayo.”
Those two names are fitting given that the Patriots reportedly considered hiring Vrabel over Mayo when the former was fired by the Tennessee Titans this offseason. But New England honored its plan to name Mayo as Belichick’s successor, and he responded Sunday by winning his first game in his new role.
Light said part of what makes Mayo special is his understanding of leadership.
Mayo’s ascension to the role has certainly come with its share of challenges, from navigating the budding career of No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye to managing the contract sagas of Davon Godchaux and now-former Patriot Matthew Judon. His open style of communication has drawn praise in those situations, as well as his on-field vision for his team.
He has also begun fostering a more candid relationship between the Patriots and the media than his predecessor, which has extended to the likes of Andrews jumping into the podcasting world.
Still, Mayo did spend many years under Belichick’s tutelage as a player and coach, and Light expects some of the coaching great’s lessons to manifest in Mayo’s unique style.
“It’s like, you’re going to do a lot of the things your dad did whether you like it or not because you were exposed to those things,” Light said. “I look at a lot of the things the way Belichick does, and I would assume Jerod is going to have those same kinds of experiences. He grew up in that system, played for [Belichick] his entire career … which is so valuable to have those experiences, especially when you have success.”
As Mayo said in his opening presser, he wants to be his own man, not a clone of Belichick. But the mentality and style with which he has the Patriots playing feels like an extension of the greatest coach of all time – with Mayo’s own special spin.
It’s only been one week, but the change looks good on Mayo, Andrews and the rest of the squad.