Jerod Mayo, the first Black head coach of the New England Patriots, emphasized the importance of acknowledging race and diversity in the NFL, despite the team owner’s claim of being “colorblind.”
Mayo highlighted the necessity of seeing color to address racism and emphasized the significance of his role in New England, a region with a history of racism.
Robert Kraft said, “I want to get the best people I can get.”
A new era in New England.
Congratulations, Head Coach Jerod Mayo! pic.twitter.com/Aj87oTu2S2
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 12, 2024
“I chose the best head coach for this organization,” he continued.
Kraft said Mayo “happens to be a man of color. But I chose him because I believe he’s best to do the job.”
Mayo said, “You want your locker room to be pretty diverse, and you want the world to look like that.”
“What I will say, though, is I do see color because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism,” he explained.
The lack of diversity in coaching positions within the NFL was also underscored, with Mayo’s appointment being a significant milestone.
The discussion also touched on the broader issue of racism in Boston, particularly in the sports community.
“You’d better believe being the first Black coach here in New England means a lot to me,” affirmed Mayo.
“I think we’ve got someone very special who understands how to manage young people today,” said Kraft.
“The world is different than 20 years ago, even 10 years ago. In all our businesses, we try to create a culture that people want to stay with and be there long-term, and I think that Jerod has the makeup and chemistry, and it’s genuine,” he continued.
Mayo’s stance on addressing racial issues in the NFL and Boston is seen as crucial, given the historical challenges faced by Black players and coaches.
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