Bill Belichick wasn't looking to expound on too many topics during the coaches breakfast at the NFL Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Fla., but during the almost hour-long back-and-forth with reporters, one of his longest statements centered around the subject of Jerod Mayo's retirement.
The seven-time Patriots captain announced earlier this offseason that he would be hanging up his cleats after eight NFL seasons. Belichick made Mayo the No. 10 overall pick in 2008, and he quickly established himself as one of the centerpieces of the team's defense.
Belichick has long praised Mayo for his work ethic and his leadership, and he did so once again on Tuesday morning.
"There have been very few players in my career that I’ve had the opportunity to coach that have had more of an impact on the team than Jerod has from Day 1, which is unusual," Belichick said. "From the first day he walked into the facility, which was his pre-draft visit, to after we drafted him in 2008, he’s been a pleasure to coach, great addition to our team both on and off the field. I’m sure I learned a lot more from him than he did from me.
Mayo finished each of the last three seasons on injured reserve. In 2013, he suffered a pectoral injury in Week 6 that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. One year later, in Week 6 of the 2014 season, Mayo tore the patella tendon in his knee, knocking him out until the following year. In 2015, he made it through regular-season play but suffered another pectoral injury against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs that made him unavailable for the AFC Championship Game.
Each year, despite his injuries, Mayo made a point to stick around the team's facilities and help his teammates prepare. New England's top two linebackers, Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins, have both indicated that Mayo has been a crucial mentor in their development and now they form one of the top linebacker duos in the league.
"Jerod, Chani and their family brought a special glow to our team, to our organization," Belichick added. "Although Jerod will always be part of the team -- he’ll always be welcome -- he’ll be missed on a daily basis. The attitude and work ethic and love for football he brought was special. He was very special."