In 2022, Lovie Smith wanted to win the last game of the year rather than secure the Houston Texans the No. 1 overall pick.
The mission was accomplished in Indianapolis, but it cost Smith his job when the team landed back home.
Jerod Mayo followed in Smith’s footsteps, both in the on-field outcome and eventual off-field outlook.
The New England Patriots have fired Mayo after one season following their 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 18’s finale, the team announced Sunday.
The Patriots finished 4-13 in Mayo’s lone season as the heir-apparent to six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. With the win over Buffalo, New England moves from picking No. 1 in the 2025 draft to No. 4, instead.
“I am grateful for Jerod’s many contributions to the New England Patriots throughout his career and will always be rooting for his success,” owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “I appreciate all his hard work and hope the experiences gained will help him in the future, as I still believe he will be a successful head coach in this league. I wish Jerod and his family nothing but success in the future.”
Patriots fired HC Jerod Mayo, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/rZUOOoKmVC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2025
Much like the Texans, the Patriots entered the final week of the regular season with the No. 1 pick. Behind rookie Joe Milton, New England picked apart a Bills’ defense featuring mostly backups and young players since the AFC East winner elected to rest starters for the postseason.
The Texans played starters against the Colts. Davis Mills found Jordan Akins for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 50 seconds remaining to set up the 32-31 comeback victory.
Milton finished 22 of 29 for 241 yards and found Kayshon Boutte a touchdown pass in the second quarter. Joey Slye kicked three field goals in the second half to take an eight-point lead.
Smith is more known because Houston had the No. 1 overall pick, but he’s not the only Texans’ one-and-one coach. David Culley, who was hired to replace Bill O’Brien in 2020, was fired after going 4-13 in 2021.
Statement from Robert Kraft on the firing of Jerod Mayo: pic.twitter.com/0KBQZfGrIV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 5, 2025
Along with Culley and Smith,Mayo joins Frank Reich (Carolina Panthers, 2023), Nathaniel Hackett (Denver Broncos, 2022), Urban Meyer (Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021), Freddie Kitchens (Cleveland Browns, 2019), Steve Wilks (Arizona Cardinals, 2018), Chip Kelly (San Francisco 49ers, 2016) and Jim Tomsula (49ers, 2015) as non-interim head coaches who were fired after one year.
Two years after losing the No. 1 overall pick, the Texans have made the playoffs twice under DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud. They’ve won 21 games, including a victory in the AFC Wild Card Round over the Browns, since moving off Smiht.
Maybe the same will come for the next coach and 2023 rookie Drake Maye.