Jerod Mayo was presented a game ball by owner Robert Kraft after becoming just the fifth Patriots coach to win his first regular-season game.
CINCINNATI — New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo was presented a game ball by owner Robert Kraft after Sunday’s 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals to acknowledge his first career win.
Kraft delivered the ball to Mayo in the locker room, which led to a rousing cheer from players.
„It was special. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity“, Mayo said, adding that he presented a game ball to executive director of player personnel Eliot Wolf for his first win in the role. „My message to the players was without them, I’m nothing. I made sure they knew that. All the praise goes to those guys.“
The 38-year-old Mayo, who succeeded Bill Belichick after 24 years, joins Ron Meyer (1982), Raymond Berry (1984), Dick MacPherson (1991) and Pete Carroll (1997) as the only Patriots coaches to earn a win in their first regular-season game.
„He was ecstatic, elated, overjoyed. He should be. It’s his first one“, quarterback Jacoby Brissett said of Mayo.
