Report: Eagles expected to interview Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to interview New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for their head coach vacancy, according to reports from Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport.

Most will remember Mayo from his successful NFL playing career. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft spent eight seasons with the Patriots, winning one Super Bowl along the way. Mayo also logged two Pro Bowl berths and one first-team All-Pro honor.

Mayo retired in 2016 but it wasn’t until 2019 that he began his coaching career in his current role with the Patriots. In other words, he’s not very experienced. This isn’t to say he’s necessarily a bad coach; two-time Pro Bowl Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower previously spoke highly of him (via Pats Pulpit):

“He’s a hell of a coach. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything less. He’s got so much knowledge and so much wisdom that he brings — not just as a football player. He’s definitely done it. He’s seen it. He’s played it. The reputation that he has, he’s an All-Pro, so it’s great to have a linebacker coach who has been through so much and can relate to a lot.”

With that said, Mayo might not be the most realistic candidate given how he only has two years of coaching at any level under his belt. There’s also the fact that the Bill Belichick coaching tree hasn’t been very fruitful in the NFL.

Then again, it’s hard not to like what former Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores — whom Mayo replaced in New England — has done with the Miami Dolphins thus far. It’s worth noting that Mayo, like Flores before him, boasts more responsibility than a typical position coach since the Patriots lack a true defensive coordinator. Doesn’t hurt to speak with him and pick his brain.

Mayo is the third defensive-minded coaching candidate the Eagles are expected to interview in the near future. Interesting to see them showing significant interest in that side of the ball since Jeffrey Lurie has only employed head coaches with offensive backgrounds since 1999.

Quick recap of what we know about the Eagles’ coaching search — which is off to an encouraging start — so far:

REQUESTED INTERVIEWS

49ers DC Robert Saleh
Titans OC Arthur Smith
Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles
Patriots ILB coach Jerod Mayo

RUMORED INTEREST

Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley
Chiefs QB coach/passing game coordinator Mike Kafka
Eagles assistant head coach/RB coach Duce Staley