New England Patriots fans are officially in panic mode, and it’s easy to see why. With Jerod Mayo out of the picture, the coaching lineup just took a major hit. But while the dust is still settling, Eliot Wolf remains the executive vice president of player personnel.
The contrast couldn’t be starker: one major figure is gone and another was seemingly untouched amid the chaos.
Eliot Wolf Stays, Jerod Mayo Goes: Patriots Fans Split as Offseason Pressure Mounts
Pats head coach Mayo was shown the door after just one season, but Wolf remains untouched as EVP. Wolf, who’s been the de facto general manager since May 2024, is expected to lead the front office through what could be a pivotal offseason.
The fan reactions have been fiery: one fan bluntly declared, “We are cooked then i still hate the @Patriots”
we are cooked then i still hate the @Patriots
— brad guapovich⛄️ (@BallUpTopBrad) January 5, 2025
Another lamented the missed opportunity to hire a fresh GM: “They have a top 4 pick and the most cap space. And they presumably have their QB. There is not better opportunity to get a new GM. Massive swing and miss on this one.”
They have a top 4 pick and the most cap space. And they presumably have their QB. There is not better opportunity to get a new GM. Massive swing and miss on this one,
— Al V (@AV_0037) January 5, 2025
A more optimistic take came with a caveat, “one mulligan” for Wolf, but anything less than a blockbuster offseason, and his seat could heat up.
“I’ll allow him one mulligan. But if this offseason doesn’t blow us out of the water, he’ll be on thin ice depending on how next season goes,” the fan commented.
I'll allow him one mulligan. But if this offseason doesn't blow us out of the water, he'll be on thin ice depending on how next season goes.
— '94 Pats Fan (@JosephBuqueNFL) January 5, 2025
Not everyone is entirely out on Wolf, though.
Some highlight his track record and deep football knowledge with one user commenting, “Yeah I thought he would. I wonder how many of the draft decisions may have been influenced by Mayo. Wolf has a track record and football knowledge. Kraft needs to lean on that.”
The big question is how Wolf will shape this critical offseason. With a prime position in the 2025 NFL Draft and plenty of salary cap space and flexibility, fans expect bold moves. Any missteps, however, could spark a fresh wave of frustration.
Wolf himself acknowledged needing “more internal development” in 2024. Whether he delivers or not, Patriots Nation isn’t holding back.
Wolf Acknowledges Hits, Misses in Year 1 as Patriots’ GM
The Patriots’ 2024 season has been a full-blown storm, and Wolf knows it. In his first year as the team’s executive vice president of player personnel (and de facto GM), Wolf reflected on his roster decisions.
“We had a lot of needs. I would say that I guess personally, what I was expecting [was] maybe a little bit more internal development, which is a good lesson certainly heading into next year, and that you can’t always rely on that,” he said in an exclusive interview with Fox Sports’ NFL reporter Henry McKenna.
Wolf’s tenure saw both hits and misses.
Selecting QB Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 draft was a clear highlight (currently holds a 75.0 QB+ grade in his rookie season). What about trading Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick? A solid move too, especially as Judon’s production dipped to just 5.5 sacks and 39 tackles this season.
But Wolf’s rookie receivers, including Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, didn’t deliver. “Polk was sort of in our estimation a plug-and-play,” Wolf noted, hinting at coaching struggles in player development.
While some blame falls on Mayo’s coaching staff, Wolf didn’t shy away from accountability, saying, “Our record speaks for itself. We didn’t do enough.”
Under Bill Belichick’s dual role, blame was easier to assign. Now, the Patriots’ struggles highlight a murkier dynamic between the front office and coaching staff.
It’s make-or-break time in Foxborough, Mass.