Robert Kraft’s Master Move Leveraged Rarely Used Rooney Rule Aspect for Seamless Bill Belichick Succession

As the sun finally set on Bill Belichick’s time with the New England Patriots. The team moved on by promoting Jerod Mayo within 25 hours to the HC position. The owner Robert Kraft and his understanding of the regulations brought this speed and decisiveness on.

Mayo played for the Patriots from 2008 to 2015 and then became the linebackers coach in 2019. The Patriots are the only team that Mayo has ever worked with. Hence, when Kraft saw the possibility of Mayo being plucked away, the 82-year-old owner devised a master plan.

Robert Kraft: a master of his craft

The Rooney Rule has been in place since 2003, according to which every franchise is under regulations whenever hiring members within their management or coaching staff. This rule requires that every franchise must conduct in-person interviews with individuals from minority communities before hiring anyone.

“This is a results business, and certain things in life, it’s instinctual”, Kraft said to the press after parting ways with Belichick. And the Patriots’ CEO used all his might to keep the results in his favor. Even when the most successful coach in the history of the league left the franchise.

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This method has only been used three times since the inception of the Rooney Rule. And only once in the last 15 years, when the Baltimore Ravens hired Eric DaCosta to become their GM. This rule bypasses the necessity of conducting interviews if there is a succession plan in place for individuals under the same franchise.

Jerod Mayo caught everyone’s attention

The plan was hatched when the Carolina Panthers wanted to interview Meyo for their HC position in January 2023. Kraft did not want the talented Meyo to leave and hence offered a contract extension with the succession plan clause in built.

The same clause was inserted in Belichick’s contract as well. Both Kraft and the former HC understood that Mayo was too good to be given away to any other team. However, this plan was fast-forwarded due to the lackluster performances by the Patriots this season.

Do you agree with Robert Kraft that Mayo is the perfect candidate for the HC position? Let us know in the comments.

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