Stephen A. Smith Accuses NFL Franchise Of Racist Firing
01/06/2025 05:55 PM
Stephen A. Smith isn't happy with one of the NFL head coaching firings following the 2024 regular season.
Five NFL head coaches were fired either during or after the 2024 regular season. During the season, the Jets fired Robert Saleh, the Bears fired Matt Eberflus and the Saints fired Dennis Allen. Following the year, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo and the Jaguars fired Doug Pederson. It's possible that more head coaching firings could be on the way, but right now, we stand at five head coaching openings.
Smith has a big problem with one of them.
The prominent ESPN personality essentially accused the New England Patriots of making a racist firing, letting go of a first-year Black head coach after a tough season.
Smith believes that Black head coaches like Mayo are not given as much time to prove their ability as white coaches.
"I don't like this," Smith said. "They call it Black Monday for a reason. This certainly typifies it. I don't know why it's not called White Monday. Doug Pederson got fired from Jacksonville. He deserved that firing. Jerod Mayo clearly was not given a lengthy enough opportunity considering what Bill Belichick left him with from a talent perspective."
Stephen A. Smith on the Patriots firing Jerod Mayo: "This is about Mike Vrabel. That's who they wanted... I don't like this. They call it Black Monday for a reason. This certainly typifies it. I don't know why it's not called White Monday. Doug Pederson got fired from… pic.twitter.com/PsZFD7CrWR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 6, 2025
Mayo, who was handpicked by Patriots owner Robert Kraft to succeed Bill Belichick, led the franchise to a dismal 4-13 record in 2024.
Kraft feels "guilty" about putting Mayo in a situation he wasn't ready for.
"This whole situation is on me," Kraft said. "I feel terrible for Jerod because I put him in an untenable situation. I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in the league. He just needed more time before taking the job."
Kraft added: "In the important decisions in my life, I always say I measure nine times and cut once. And this was one of those situations. The main thing for me was I felt like we regressed. The high point was winning in the Cincinnati game [in Week 1]. And then midseason, I just think we started to regress.
"I don't like losing. I don't like losing the way we lost."
The Patriots have since been linked to Mike Vrabel, who is rumored to have serious interest in the job. Vrabel, who previously coached the Titans, starred for the Patriots during his playing career.
