Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Receives Game Ball After First Coaching Win

CINCINNATI — In a moment commemorating a significant milestone, New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo received a game ball from team owner Robert Kraft following the team’s narrow 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. This victory marks Mayo’s first win as a head coach.

The scene in the locker room was electric as Kraft handed over the ball, eliciting cheers from players who rallied behind their new leader.

“It was special. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity,” Mayo expressed. He also honored Eliot Wolf, the executive director of player personnel, presenting him with a game ball for his first win in that role. “My message to the players was clear: without them, I’m nothing. I made sure they understood that all the praise goes to them.”

At just 38 years old, Mayo has stepped into his role following the long tenure of Bill Belichick, who coached the team for 24 years. He joins a select group of coaches in Patriots history, including Ron Meyer, Raymond Berry, Dick MacPherson, and Pete Carroll, who have all registered a win in their inaugural regular-season game.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett shared his thoughts on Mayo’s victory, conveying his excitement: “He was ecstatic, elated, overjoyed. He should be. It’s his first one. He got us ready not just this week but since the spring. Nobody believed in us, but he kept insisting that ‘the people are the ones that matter,’ and that belief paid off.”

The Patriots, deemed underdogs heading into the game, were able to best a depleted Bengals team. They achieved this with a resilient running game that amassed 170 yards on 39 attempts. Conversely, they effectively limited Cincinnati’s offense, commanded by Joe Burrow, to just 224 yards, missing key receiver Tee Higgins due to a hamstring injury. A critical turnover differential of plus-two and a successful fourth-down defense in the second half significantly contributed to the outcome.

As Kraft presented the game ball, it was noted that his first win as an owner also occurred in Cincinnati, dating back to September 18, 1994, when the Patriots triumphed 31-28.

Veteran safety Jabrill Peppers reflected on the moment, noting, “It’s a good feeling, getting him his first win, especially on the road to start the season right. He’s a players’ coach, adept with the X’s and O’s, and is a tremendous motivator. He’s someone you genuinely want to play for.”

Peppers further elaborated on Mayo’s coaching style, saying, “He brings humor to the locker room, but when it’s time for business, he switches gears. This balance is crucial. He treats us all like professionals, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

As the game drew to a close, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux poured Gatorade over Mayo in celebration.

“Legendary — first African-American coach in New England history,” Godchaux remarked. “I’ll proudly tell my kids that I was part of this moment, and I’m excited to be a part of history.”

The Patriots, with the odds against them as 7.5-point underdogs, achieved the biggest Week 1 upset since 2018, as noted by ESPN Research, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took down the New Orleans Saints as a 10-point underdog.

With this victory, New England ended a dry spell, securing its first Week 1 win since 2020. The team is gearing up to host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.

Interestingly, in their season opener, the Patriots’ longest play was just 17 yards, accomplished by a completion from Brissett to receiver Tyquan Thornton. This also marked a unique achievement; they became the first team to win a season opener without a single 20-yard play since the Denver Broncos accomplished the same feat against the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.

The 16 points scored also tied for the fewest in a Week 1 victory in franchise history, matching records from 1968 and 1991.