Big news for the Patriots! For the first time since 2000, someone else other than Bill Belichick will be calling the shots as the HC. Well, it’s Jerod Mayo, who stepped up from his role as an inside LB coach to take the helm in 2024. And Jahlani Tavai has an interesting take on the two coaches.

On the 19th August episode of The Greg Hill Show, Tavai said, “It’s just different,” when asked to compare Mayo and Belichick. “I think Mayo just has an understanding of the other guys. So I think he you know, he brings a little bit different energy to the to the meetings to the practices. And that energy that he brings never changes, you know, when you see him at 6 in the morning, he’s the same person that you see at 7 p.m.,” revealed Tavai.

Per reports, Jerod was an absolute ‘floater‘ on Day 1 of camp, bouncing around between positions while engaging with players throughout practice. But what about Belichick? Well, per Tavai, “Bill would turn into a grumpy old man by one o ‘clock in the afternoon. Angry Bill is just quiet unless you talk to him and nothing was wrong with that, you know. It’s different.”

And Tavai wasn’t alone, as Patriots’ defensive end Keion White also seemed to be on the same page, stating, “We don’t got Bill cursing us out every play anymore.” Moreover, Belichick’s coaching style was also regarded as ‘often based on fear‘ by the NFL GOAT Tom Brady himself.

Amid all this, Jerod Mayo has also agreed on a much-awaited contract extension with Jahlani Tavai. The linebacker has signed a 3-year deal with a base value of $15 million in 2024. Whereas, he came with a two-year, $4.4 million pact signed with Belichick during the 2022 season.

It’s safe to say, Mayo is bringing in new energy to the Patriots. But what are his views on Bill Belichick? Is it the same as the players?

Jerod Mayo’s views on Bill Belichick

Earlier this year, Mayo met with the reporters for the first time as the Pats’ HC. Mayo seemed to respect Belichick’s monumental legacy as the former Patriots’ HC, as he confessed that the legendary coach was always true to himself. Moreover, Jerod highlighted that his strategy was a blend of his own styles and lessons learned from Bill Belichick. Furthermore, he expressed his interest in integrating Belichick’s principles of hard work with his own energy to build a good team culture, “But what I will say is the more I think about lessons I’ve taken from Bill, hard work works. Hard work works, and that’s what we’re all about.”

And that’s not all, as he further emphasized, “For me, I’m not trying to be Bill.” In February 2024, he praised Belichick’s long run with the Patriots, stating, “I would say Bill did a great job for a long period of time.” Well, that’s justified by Belichick’s 226-121 records and 17 AFC East championships with the Pats. But in the words of Mayo himself,  “it’s going to be different,” and the Patriots are going to be a new team.

So, with Jerod Mayo as the new HC, can the new Pats make it to the playoffs this season?