Patriots Stud Tries to Win Over New Coaches After Jerod Mayo Support

One New England Patriots playmaker wants to make sure the new coaches like him despite previously supporting Jerod Mayo.

Though the Mike Vrabel coaching era has begun, the former New England Patriots defender is working with several pieces from previous regimes. One star he inherited this offseason is cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who was the last first-round pick made by Bill Belichick.

Gonzalez then became a centerpiece of Jerod Mayo’s defense for the 2024 campaign, but the latter was quickly fired after that disastrous season came to an end. The CB was one of the only players to speak up in favor of the dismissed HC, saying he felt the organization did Mayo a bit “dirty.”

However, Gonzo now has a new coaching staff to win over, and he’s making sure his past Mayo support doesn’t get in the way of anything.

New England opened its OTA program this past week, which meant new and veteran players were on hand to start building toward 2025 success. Gonzalez was in attendance and asked by reporters his first thoughts on Vrabel, to which he offered pure praise. The third-year corner said he already “love[s] playing” for the ex-Patriots LB and noted his energy is already rubbing off.

It’s safe to say Gonzalez is trying to get on Vrabel’s good side as they gear up for the season, and no one can blame him. The Oregon product was brought in by completely different leadership, which means there’s no emotional investment from Vrabel in him at the moment. That can sometimes lead to high-profile breakups when a decision-maker chooses to send off a holdover who’d fetch a haul if sent elsewhere.

Of course, Gonzalez’s job is likely safer than others considering his standing as one of the league’s best young corners. However, he also has an extension to start preparing for with his rookie contract up in 2027 (assuming his option is picked up) and teams often wanting to get ahead of paying their rising stars.

With that in mind, it’s wise for Gonzalez to become a favorite of Vrabel early on in the coach’s tenure to help him on the bargaining side. He will earn a big pay day with his performance on the field, but becoming a favorite of the staff will only make signing a lucrative deal even easier.

The fact he’s publicly embracing his new coaches is certainly one step toward strengthening this partnership despite Mayo’s exit.