Pats Pulpit
Brian Belichick first joined New England’s staff as a scouting assistant in 2016.
There were three on the New England Patriots’ staff. Now there is one.
But as Jerod Mayo begins his first organized team activities as an NFL head coach, he is glad to have a familiar name retained.
Brian Belichick enters 2024 in the same capacity as before.
“True professional,” Mayo told reporters during his Monday press conference on the practice fields outside Gillette Stadium. “You know, any time you see your dad and your brother go somewhere else, the natural thing would be to go with them.”
January brought the parting of ways with Bill Belichick after 24 seasons as the head coach in Foxborough. By February, Steve Belichick had moved on to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington after most recently serving as the team’s outside linebackers coach and de facto co-defensive coordinator.
As for the youngest son, the title of safeties coach remains.
“Look, he’s a New Englander,” Mayo said. “He’s a Patriot. I’m happy to have him.”
With Super Bowl LI and LIII rings, Brian Belichick finds himself in his ninth year with the organization after arriving as a Trinity College graduate in 2016. A stay that got underway as a scouting assistant and coaching assistant has continued with New England’s safety depth chart since 2020.
And on a side of the ball that also still includes Mike Pellegrino as cornerbacks coach, he moves forward under DeMarcus Covington, an in-house promotion to defensive coordinator.
“I know DeMarcus is happy to have him, as well,” added Mayo. “I think he’s a great coach and I still think he has room to grow. He’s really taken it by the horns and worked on his development. So, excited to have him.”
New England’s official roster lists a total of 31 coaches, counting 15th head coach in franchise history.
It is one change among many.
“The thing about it is that’s an interesting dynamic, or an interesting conversation with so many coaches on the staff,” Mayo said. “What I will say, historically, we have always had a small staff. And so now it feels like a lot of coaches out here, but really that brings us back to par, realistically.”
The final phase of the voluntary offseason workout program kicked off Monday for the Patriots. After 10 OTA sessions reach the rearview, mandatory minicamp is scheduled to run from June 11-13 before the summer break.
