THE New England Patriots have moved swiftly to hire Jerod Mayo as their new head coach.

Bill Belichick, 71, parted ways with the NFL franchise on Thursday following a 24-year tenure.

Mayo will be formally introduced as Belichick’s replacement next week – per ESPN’s Adam Schefter,

The former Patriots linebacker has spent his entire NFL career with New England.

He was selected as the No. 10 overall pick by the franchise in the first round of the 2008 draft.

Mayo won a Super Bowl ring under Belichick and has been a linebackers coach in Foxborough since 2019.

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He signed a new coaching contract with New England in the summer.

The appointment makes Mayo the first Black coach in Patriots history.

Belichick’s fate was sealed earlier this week after intense discussions over three days with owner Robert Kraft.

The Patriots slumped to a 4-13 record in 2023, their worst regular season performance since 1994.

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The 71-year-old cut an emotional figure at a Gillette Stadium press conference on Thursday.

Belichick’s voice cracked as he said, “There’s so many fond memories and thoughts [when] I think about the Patriots.

“I’ll always be a Patriot, I look forward to coming back here. But at this time, we’re going to move on.

“I’m excited about the future.”

Mayo currently resides with his wife Chantel and their four children in North Attleborough, Massachusetts.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has claimed a “secret clause” in Mayo’s contract had it written that he would be the “successor” to Belichick.

Earlier this month, Mayo spoke out after “hurtful” reports suggesting he had, “rubbed at least some people the wrong way” in the Patriots building.

Mayo, 37, will become the youngest head coach in the NFL and is the 15th coach in Patriots history.

He is one month younger than Sean McVay, also 37, who has coached the Los Angeles Rams since 2017.