Devin McCourty thinks Patriots coaches are ‘coaching to make sure that they’re back’ entering Week 18

Despite reports suggesting that Jerod Mayo will not be fired following his dismal rookie season as the Patriots’ head coach, one former New England player isn’t convinced Mayo’s job, and the rest of the coaching staff’s jobs, are guaranteed next season.

Devin McCourty told Kay Adams on FanDuel’s “Up & Adams Show” Friday that although he was surprised to hear “Fire Mayo” chants from the Gillette Stadium crowd last week, he can’t say for certain that the organization won’t make those two words come true.

“I think he’ll be back next year, but I would say overall in this league, you can never just say something’s definite until someone comes out and says ‘this person will be back.,’ McCourty said. Like last year when Jerry Jones came out and said, ‘Mike McCarthy’s gonna be our head coach next year.’ We haven’t heard that.”

McCourty, a three-time Super Bowl champion across 13 seasons in New England, said he was in attendance for the Patriots’ Week 17 blowout loss to the Chargers. He heard the “Fire Mayo” chants for himself, and added that he spoke to some of the team’s coaches while he was there.

In those conversations, McCourty explained that the individuals he talked to feel as if they’re coaching for their jobs as they enter the final game of the season.

“Just from talking to those guys, I do feel like they feel they’re coaching to make sure that they’re back. I don’t think there’s this feeling of, ‘Hey, we’re safe, we’re good,’” McCourty said. “I think there is a little bit of a sense of urgency and an edge from everybody there because a lot of those guys were players, they were in New England. They understand how things work and how you have to have a sense of urgency and there’s a standard to be met. So they’re definitely coaching their butts off and trying to stick around.”

Current Patriots coaches who previously played for Bill Belichick in New England include Mayo, Dont’a Hightower (inside linebackers), Troy Brown (kick/punt returners), Matthew Slater (special assistant to HC), and Tiquan Underwood (assistant wide receivers coach). Mayo, Hightower, and Slater are first-year coaches on this 3-13 Patriots team.

Defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington coached under Belichick, but is in his first year as a coordinator. He and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt have received backlash from fans who want them replaced next season.

Mayo was recently asked about his job security amid a less-than-ideal rookie campaign. He offered a Belichickian answer.

“I’m always in constant communication with ownership,” Mayo said in a press conference on Monday. “I feel like we’re still on the same page.”

Last month, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Mayo’s job is safe, but an end-of-season “collapse” could force the Krafts to think twice about Mayo’s job security.

McCourty isn’t sold that Mayo will return for the 2025 campaign, but he’s optimistic that his former teammate will get a second chance. McCourty inferred that the Patriots have had a years-long talent problem and that this season isn’t solely the coaches’ faults.

“I think, obviously, last year was the bottom of the barrel and to think that this year was just gonna instantly rise, I think is a stretch,” McCourty said. “So I would think and hope [Mayo] is back to get another opportunity to turn this around and not do it in a few months and think everything is gonna be perfect.”

One of McCourty’s former teammates, James White, recently echoed similar sentiments. White said it’s too soon to call for Mayo’s firing.

“To say, ‘Fire Jerod Mayo, fire Eliot Wolf’ — I think that’s a little bit of a stretch, in my opinion,” White said on the “Money Down” podcast. “I understand what they have done so far hasn’t looked great.

“As far as Mayo and Eliot Wolf, look — this is an important offseason for those guys. First time being a GM, first time being a head coach — the first season, you kind of learn on the fly,” White added. “You’re gonna learn from the ups and downs. You’re gonna figure it out. Then that next season, obviously you’ve got to see improvement. And that’s what I want to see. I think it’s hard to judge coaches. Year one is a lot. A lot that was going on.”