The Patriots showed their metal in the regular season finale. They finally roared to defeat the Bills 23-16. Though this win will not change the season’s outcome for them, coach Jerod Mayo became the talk of the town.

Mayo caused a bit of a stir when fans noticed he wasn’t wearing the blue pin for Robert Kraft’s “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign, something he’s usually seen rocking. Naturally, we will have doubts, right? The same thing happened when people saw it directly. So, was it a statement or just an accident? Mayo wasn’t about to let the rumors outbound and quickly gave a chill explanation. When asked about the pin, Mayo shrugged it off, saying, “I had a big coat on and it was kind of like the same thing last week or in Buffalo.”

Not just that. He added, “I apologize for not having it visible. You can make a story about it if you want to.” Simple as that. No big deal, just leaving everything like that. He was like-Do you need something to write? I’m giving you. Take this and just go!

But the drama didn’t stop there. After the pin incident, things took a major turn when Robert Kraft dropped a statement saying that Jerod Mayo wouldn’t be back as head coach in 2025. Maybe Mayo knew this beforehand and did that blue pin thing. Kraft admitted it was one of the hardest decisions he’s had to make. But with the team’s performance not stacking up, he had to make the change. “Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped,” Kraft said.

Still, Kraft showed nothing but love for Mayo, calling him a leader both on and off the field and saying he believed Mayo would eventually succeed as a head coach elsewhere. Even though the Patriots are moving on, Kraft’s respect for Mayo is clear as day and it’s evident that their relationship will always have some serious history behind it. That’s for sure. Because they have a relation of 17 years. Not 1, not 2, it’s 17 freaking years!! So, that is a big history between them.

Victory secured, but lost draft

Before getting the boot as head coach, Jerod Mayo wasn’t about to let a rough season distract him from what really mattered: the game. Despite the Patriots’ 4-13 record, Mayo kept his eyes on the field, stressing that the team’s focus was always on winning, not draft picks. “We always want to go out there and win,” Mayo said, showing that even when things aren’t going your way, the mission stays the same. It was all about playing with heart, no matter the odds.

Mayo’s approach to the season finale against the Bills showed he was all about the present. Even though a loss could’ve locked in the No. 1 draft pick, he still chose rookie QB Drake Maye, who was dealing with a hand injury. Mayo wasn’t playing for draft positioning—he just wanted to finish strong.

In the end, the Pats’ win kinda backfired. They didn’t get the No. 1 pick, and that went to the Titans instead. But Jerod Mayo’s dedication to the team and winning was obvious all season. Even when the going got tough, his leadership stood out. Still, with the Patriots deciding to move in a new direction, it’s clear that they felt the need for a change.