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5h ago

Kraft Defends Mayo Firing as Patriots’ Turnaround Sets Up Texans Test

He says the costly change paved the way for Mike Vrabel’s swift reset.

K'Lavon Chaisson
Drake Maye can torch opposing defenses with his scrambling ability.
Robert Kraft prior to a Patriots-Jets game in December.
Foxboro, MA - New England Patriots’s Drake Maye signals during the second quarter of the game at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

Overview

  • New England rebounded from consecutive 4-13 seasons to a 14-3 AFC East title, then beat the Chargers 16-3 for its first playoff win since Super Bowl LIII.
  • Robert Kraft called dismissing Jerod Mayo after one year one of his hardest decisions and said paying out contracts for Mayo and roughly 25 assistants created the worst financial hit of his ownership.
  • Mike Vrabel overhauled the staff and, working with executive Eliot Wolf, helped drive roster upgrades and a culture shift that energized fans at Gillette Stadium.
  • Second-year quarterback Drake Maye enters the divisional round with MVP buzz and praise for his humility, with coaches and teammates noting his rushing threat as a potential edge.
  • The Patriots host the Texans on Sunday at 3 p.m., with analysis highlighting Houston’s elite defense — led by Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter — as a decisive challenge that will test Josh McDaniels’ game plan and ball security.