"It was unfair": Rob Gronkowski speaks out after Patriots boot first-year coach Jerod Mayo

Rob Gronkowski has broken his silence about the New England Patriots parting ways with Jerod Mayo on Sunday after just one season at the helm. The decision, announced after a 4-13 finish to the 2024 season, has led to many questioning the fairness of the move. Gronkowski, who played under Patriots legend Bill Belichick, is among those who believe the firing was premature.

Speaking on the "Up & Adams Show" on Wednesday, Gronkowski, called the decision "unfair" given the circumstances Mayo inherited.

"It was kind of unfair to him, because the expectations, you know, taking over that roster, taking over that organization at that time, were very, very low," Gronkowski pointed out. "I don't care what coach you had there, what you would have had there this year. They would have only won 4-5-6 games maximum, you know, potentially. So, that's why I'm saying, like, Jeod should have gotten a second chance."

Gronkowski’s comments carry weight because the Patriots have a history of great success under Bill Belichick. He believes that Mayo deserved more time to prove himself.

"It was a tough call," he said.

Jerod Mayo, chosen by owner Robert Kraft to follow in Belichick's footsteps had hoped to continue the team’s winning tradition. However, a disappointing season forced Kraft to make the hard decision to let Mayo go.

That said, Jerod Mayo and Rob Gronkowski played together during their NFL career. They were teammates on the New England Patriots from 2010 to 2015 and contributed to the Patriots' success, including winning one Super Bowl together in 2015.

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Rob Gronkowski shares bold take on Bill Belichick

Before talking about Jerod Mayo, Rob Gronkowski shared his opinion on his former head coach, Bill Belichick, who recently stepped into the college football world as the head coach at the University of North Carolina.

For Gronk, this feels more like an intermission than a finale.

"I believe that Coach Belichick will have some good success at UNC, but I believe that his heart truly belongs in the NFL ranks, and he's eventually gonna go back to the NFL if it's in three years or four years. But I think he ends his career coaching as a head coach for an NFL team," the former Patriots TE said.

Over 24 seasons, Belichick won six Super Bowl titles and three with Gronkowski. But the post-Belichick Patriots have faltered with a dismal 4-13 season.