NFL fans have claimed that the writing was on the wall for Jerod Mayo and his brief tenure with the New England Patriots based on the head coach's act in the final game of the regular season.
Mayo, who had been Bill Belichick's handpicked successor, retired from New England in spectacular fashion on Sunday, leading the Patriots to a victory in what was to be his final game in the job and costing the franchise its first overall draft pick. in the process.
The head coach lasted just under 12 months on the job and was fired about an hour after the final whistle against the Buffalo Bills.
But some fans suggested there was a sign the 38-year-old already knew he was on his way out even before the shock 23-16 victory began.
Mayo was seen without the blue square pin he has normally worn to games throughout the season, which is a symbol of support for Patriots owner Robert Kraft's 'Stand Up to Jewish Hate' campaign.
Mayo insisted it was no big deal not wearing the badge when reporters asked him about it after Sunday's game.
Former New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo spotted without blue pin
The Patriots owner, pictured with the pin, fired Mayo shortly after Sunday's NFL finale.
“I had a big coat and it was pretty much the same last week or in Buffalo,” he said, by Mike Kadlick. '(…) I apologize for not having it visible. You can make a story about it if you want.'
However, since Kraft gave Mayo the boot just hours after the former Patriots player went to the sideline without the pin, some NFL fans claimed that the coach opted not to wear it because he already knew he would be fired. .
Although Mayo has worn the pin in almost every game this season, there is no evidence to suggest his absence and dismissal were linked.
“It feels like Mayo pissed off the fans by winning and pissed off the Krafts by not wearing the Stop Jewish Hate pin. No choice. No pin. Jobless. #Patriots,” wrote one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“He probably knows he's done for, so there's no need to play anymore to appease his boss,” said another.
“He no longer feels the need to appease the boss,” echoed one social media user.
“That's a very quick way to get fired,” a fourth suggested, while another implied the deed was done, adding: “They fired him!!”
Others agreed, with one adding: “Dude knows it's over,” another posted: “The little comment at the end makes it seem like it's over,” while a third chimed in: “Wow he knows it's cooked.”
Mayo is pictured wearing the pin, a symbol of Kraft's “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” campaign.
Many NFL fans claimed that the pin's absence was a sign that Mayo knew he would be fired.
“I think they just told us that Jerod knows he coached his last game as Pats HC,” one said, referring to Mayo's comments about the pin.
Mayo isn't the only NFL coach to spark controversy with symbols (or lack thereof) on his gear this season.
Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was seen on the sidelines of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the team's international game against the Minnesota Vikings in October wearing a Lebanese flag below the Nike logo on the sleeve of his sweatshirt. hood of your team.
The night before the match, Israeli bombing continued in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, amid the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Born in Dearborn, Michigan, Saleh is a U.S. citizen but his roots go back to Lebanon.
He was fired by Jets owner Woody Johnson just a couple of days after the loss to the Vikings in the British capital.