Jerod Mayo is savouring a “special” first NFL victory after the New England Patriots beat the Cincinnati Bengals to open their account in Week 1.
The visitors stunned Joe Burrow and his team, picking up a 16-10 win, with Jacoby Brissett starting at quarterback ahead of No.3 draft pick Drake Maye.
Mayo was handed a game ball by Patriots owner Robert Kraft in the locker room after the match and he also had a bucket of Gatorade poured over him when the game was won.
The 38-year-old was humble in victory and says he could not do his job without a great group of players.
He said: “It was special. I’m just appreciative of the opportunity.
“My message to the players was without them, I’m nothing. I made sure they knew that. All the praise goes to those guys.”
Jerod Mayo gets his first win as @Patriots head coach 👏 pic.twitter.com/xXpEQ18ehQ
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
Mayo succeeded the legendary Bill Belichick, who was in charge for 24 years and oversaw one of the biggest dynasties in NFL history.
They favoured the running game against the Bengals, totalling 170 yards and 39 carries.
Brissett – who was chosen as the starting QB in pre-season – added that Mayo believed in him to deliver.
He said: “He was ecstatic, elated, overjoyed. He should be. It’s his first one.
“He got us ready to go — not only this week but going back to [the spring].
“Nobody believed in us, but he kept preaching that ‘the people are the ones that matter’ and that came to fruition.”
Mayo now stands out as the first African-American coach in New England history.
And after pulling off the biggest Week 1 upset in many years, they will be hoping to make it a 2-0 record when they host the Seattle Seahawks next week.
