After the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick mutually decided to part ways after 24 seasons, Jerod Mayo, the team’s linebackers coach has been promoted and named the organization's next head coach, CBS News reports.

Mayo will be the first Black head coach in Patriots history.

According to the report, Mayo was the top choice for Patriots owner Robert Kraft even before Belichick officially left the team.

In an unprecedented move, the Patriots were in negotiations with Mayo on a contract extension to prevent him from seeking another head coaching position. Kraft went as far as to say that Mayo was "a strong candidate to be the heir apparent" in Foxborough after Belichick's legendary tenure.

Because a succession plan was established with Mayo’s contract extension last offseason, the Patriots were not required to adhere to the standard NFL hiring process and could hire him immediately.

As a player, Mayo starred at the University of Tennessee and was selected with the  10th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Patriots. He would go on to spend his entire professional career in Foxborough winning the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2009. Also, he earned two Pro Bowl selections, one first-team All-Pro, and won a Super Bowl championship in 2014.

During his 103 games with the Patriots, he was named defensive captain for seven straight seasons from 2009-15. He retired in 2016.

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After his playing days were over, Mayo worked in finance for Optum, a health care services provider. He says that experience prepared him for his coaching career.

"I feel like I'm prepared. I feel like I'm ready," Mayo said in an interview with ESPN in early January. "I feel like I can talk to men, women, old, young, white, Black -- it doesn't matter. And hopefully, develop those people into upstanding citizens and help them evolve. That's how I think about it. I feel like my calling is to develop.”

In 2019, Mayo joined the Patriots coaching staff as the inside linebackers coach. Over the last few seasons, he served the Patriots “de-facto” defensive coordinator with play-calling duties, a rarity for any member of Belichick’s coaching staff.

After a 4-13 record this past season, Mayo will be looking to make major improvements to the Patriots as he attempts to bring the team back to the NFL postseason.