WATCH: Fox Sports cuts off Rob Gronkowski abruptly before ex-Patriots TE unleashes rant on Robert Kraft after Jerod Mayo firing

Following their 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills' backup players that saw them lose out on the top spot in the 2024 NFL draft on Sunday, the New England Patriots announced that they were parting ways with coach Jerod Mayo after only one season.

New England owner Robert Kraft released a statement via the team's social media handles that read:

"After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025... When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach... Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team's performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped."

The Patriots' decision to fire Mayo after one season did not sit well with his former teammate and four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski. The usually affable analyst voiced his displeasure about the franchise's decision to fire the rookie head coach on Fox Sports' halftime show.

"I was shocked by that. ... I think it was unfair to coach Jerod Mayo," Gronkowski said. "I mean, he never had the chance to develop as a head coach. He was just a rookie himself in that department. And if you judge a coach by their first year, that's really not appropriate."

Gronkowski seemingly had plenty more to say about Kraft's decision to relieve Mayo of his duties. However, Michael Strahan stepped in to cut off the retired tight end and said the show had to cut to commercial immediately.

Patriots' new head coach: Franchise has identified Jerod Mayo's replacement

The Patriots have reportedly already decided who the franchise's new head coach would be. According to The Athletic's Chad Graff and RJ Kraft, the franchise will pursue former Tennessee Titans head coach and franchise icon Mike Vrabel to take over the reins at Foxborough.

The 49-year-old coach, who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots as a player, led the Titans to two divisional titles and an AFC Championship Game appearance during his six-year reign as the franchise's head coach. Ironically, Vrabel was on the opposing sideline when Tennessee ended New England's reign of terror in the 2019 playoffs. That 20-13 loss at Gillette Stadium was Tom Brady's final game as a Patriot.

The franchise has been among the worst teams in the league since and is now keen on tasking the man who took down the dynasty to rebuild it and start a new one.