Within an hour of releasing odds on who will succeed Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots’ head coach, a sportsbook was forced to pull them down after a rush of action on Jerod Mayo.
Mayo opened as the -350 favorite by SportsBetting.ag. When those odds shortened to -700 within an hour, the book pulled the market down.
Mayo, 37, was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2008 and spent all eight of his NFL seasons playing for Belichick as one of the game’s top inside linebackers. He later joined Belichick’s staff as the position coach and has worked with New England’s inside linebackers for the past five years.
He’s a logical choice to fill Belichick’s legendary shoes and would provide continuity for the franchise. So, too, would Mike Vrabel. The 48-year-old played eight seasons for the Patriots and offers something significant that Mayo’s resume lacks – head-coaching experience.
Vrabel, fired as Tennessee’s head coach earlier this week, was being offered at +250 by the book to replace Belichick. Vrabel is expected to be on the short list for several of what is now eight head-coaching vacancies around the NFL.
The next shortest odds belonged to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at +400. No one else had shorter than the +1400 odds placed on Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
And what about Belichick’s future?
The six-time Super Bowl winning coach said he is “excited for the future” on Thursday and the 71-year-old is expected to draw interest for multiple openings as well.
NFL Network and ESPN reported at least three teams have serious interest in him. NFL Network reported the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Arthur Smith on Sunday, will be at the head of the line to talk to Belichick and would be willing to give him full control of the football operation as a coach, general manager and vice president.
The Falcons were installed as the +100 favorite to hire Belichick. Atlanta has a deep-pocketed owner in Arthur Blank, but questions at quarterback that must be addressed — especially considering the struggles the Patriots have endured at the position since Tom Brady departed.
BILL BELICHICK NEXT TEAM ODDS
Atlanta Falcons (+100)
Washington Commanders (+300)
Tennessee Titans (+400)
Carolina Panthers (+700)
Los Angeles Chargers (+800)
Las Vegas Raiders (+900)
Seattle Seahawks (+2500)
(Odds provided for entertainment purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).
–Field Level Media