First-year head coach Jerod Mayo expressed frustration after the New England Patriots’ 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, calling his team “soft.” However, former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, speaking Monday on ESPN’s *The Pat McAfee Show*, disagreed with Mayo’s assessment.
Belichick said he felt “hurt” for the players, particularly given their strong performance in 2023 when they had one of the top run defenses. Later, on the *Let’s Go* podcast with Jim Gray and guest Tom Brady, Belichick reiterated that the blame should fall on the coaching, not the players. He noted the stark contrast between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, suggesting that poor coaching had led to a decline in the team’s performance. “Last year, we were number one in rushing defense; this year, we’re 26th,” Belichick said. “It’s the same players, so I don’t think they’re soft.”
Brady chimed in, agreeing with Belichick and adding that toughness can be measured by certain stats, such as stopping the run, running the ball effectively, and covering kicks. He pointed out that teams he played on considered themselves physical if they excelled in these areas.
Belichick quickly highlighted that the Patriots struggled in all three categories during Sunday’s game. They rushed for just 38 yards, allowed 171 rushing yards, and gave up a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown. Based on the metrics Brady mentioned, the Patriots did appear “soft” in this game, raising the question of whether it’s the players or the coaching staff to blame.
