Jerod Mayo, the new head coach of the New England Patriots, discussed becoming the first black head coach on the football team during an NFL football news conference in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.
“I do see color,” Mayo said, “because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism. And whatever happens — black, white, even someone with disabilities — for the most part, people are like, ‘Don’t.’ When they’re young, they kinda make the spot hot.
“What I would say is, no, I want you to be able to go up to those people [and] really understand those people. So, that goes back to whatever it is — black, white, yellow — it really doesn’t matter, but it does matter so we can try to fix a problem that we all know we have,” he added.
The announcement of Mayo joining the team last week came after stunning news that the legendary coach Bill Belichick mutually parted ways with the team after 24 seasons.
“He doesn’t shy away from it or any issues about race in our country,” former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III said on social media. “He isn’t scared to say it with his chest. He is STANDING ON BUSINESS.”
Mayo, 37, was previously the linebackers coach for the team and had played with the Patriots for eight seasons. He began his football career playing college football at the University of Tennessee and was later selected by the Patriots in the 2008 NFL Draft.
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At the Wednesday press conference, Mayo said he’s “not trying to be” Belichick but embraced the “good foundation” of the team.
“My thing here over the next few weeks is to rebuild some relationships, knock down silos and collaborate. That’s what I’m focused on,” he said.
