The new coach of the New England Patriots is already making headlines but not for stepping in to succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s head coach.

The Patriots’ first black head coach Jerod Mayo wasted no time addressing race in his first press conference with team owner Robert Kraft sitting beside him.

“I do see color,” Mayo replied to a reporter’s question in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday.

“Because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism. And whatever happens — black, white, even someone with disabilities — for the most part, people are like, ‘Don’t.’ When they’re young, they kinda make the spot hot,” he said.

“I do see color, because I believe if you don’t see color you can’t see racism.”

Jerod Mayo on being named the first black head coach in Patriots history. pic.twitter.com/toTTJ6CrB3

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 17, 2024

“But, what I would say is, no, I want you to be able to go up to those people, really understand those people,” Mayo added. “So, that goes back to whatever it is — black, white, yellow — it really doesn’t matter, but it does matter so we can try to fix a problem that we all know we have.”

Team owner Kraft was asked about the new coach.

“Let me say this to you: I’m really color-blind in terms of I know what I feel like on Sunday when we lose, and I can just tell you that after my family, my passion is with the New England Patriots, and there’s something else (that’s a) very close second, but winning at the Patriots is my passion,” he said at the news conference.

“I want to get the best people I can get. I chose the best head coach for this organization. He happens to be a man of color. But I chose him because I believe he’s best to do the job,” Kraft added.

Mayo’s remarks quickly went viral on social media.

“Jerod Mayo is the 1st Black Head Coach of the [Patriots] and he doesn’t shy away from it or any issues about race in our country,” former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote on X. “He isn’t scared to say it with his chest. He is STANDING ON BUSINESS.”

The other responses were mixed with many singing Mayo’s praises while others criticized the emphasis on his race.

The country is so racist he gets to be head coach with the Patriots. LOL. What’s he getting paid? Man, shut up. This is why I quit watching football.

— HOCKEY MOM (@jeepgirl9272) January 17, 2024

I mean, he does know that that’s just a saying, right? Everyone sees color. It means you judge people on the content of their character not the color of their skin. The opposite of what he’s doing.

— The Dank Knight (@capeandcowell) January 17, 2024

He should be fired immediately.

Americans play on his team, no need to divide them into any other categories.

— Randy Willits (@RandyWillits) January 17, 2024

This sounds pretty racist to me.

Reverse racism = racism

— Anthony Hughes (@CallMeAntwan) January 17, 2024

New England Patriots will now be making DEI their priority over winning.

How nice.

— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) January 17, 2024

He’s already shared more personal politics in 1 day than Belichick did in 24 years

— Patrick Butler (@PatrickButler00) January 17, 2024

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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