Tedy Bruschi warns Drake Maye can not be Tom Brady for the Patriots
Tedy Bruschi still pays close attention to the Patriots. He gives his thoughts on their upcoming season and talks about his partnership with Abbott.
Christian Gonzalez is heading into his third year with the New England Patriots and will play for his third different head coach since being a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
That said, the star cornerback admitted he didn’t necessarily agree with the Patriots‘ decision to make Jerod Mayo a one-and-done head coach.
“I think they did him a little dirty giving him only one year,” Gonzalez said on the Frat Rules Podcast. “But, it’s business.”
Gonzalez said he liked playing for Mayo, who led the Patriots to a second consecutive 4-13 season in 2024 in his lone season as Bill Belichick’s replacement. New England owner Robert Kraft dismissed Mayo just hours after the team’s Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills, calling it “one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.”
“This whole situation is on me,” Kraft said during a postseason media availability. “I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation. I know he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job. In the end, I’m a fan of this team first. And now, I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully championships.”
Gonzalez blossomed under Mayo’s tutelage, racking up 59 tackles, 11 pass defenses and 2 interceptions while earning a second-team All-Pro nod. Now, he will focus on continuing his success under Mike Vrabel in a transition that will be a lot different than the one between Gonzalez’s first and second seasons.
“They damn near cleaned house,” Gonzalez said of the Patriots’ coaching changes for 2025 on the Frat Rules Podcast. “When Bill left, it was basically the same staff, just without Bill.”
