Robert Kraft bypassed a typical coaching search last year. After firing Jerod Mayo after one season, the Patriots owner can't repeat that same mistake.

Following just one season with the Patriots, Jerod Mayo, the heir apparent to Bill Belichick, was fired on Sunday. Owner Robert Kraft explained his decision on Monday.

Robert Kraft had some interesting comments when it comes to the Patriots rumored interest in Mike Vrabel.

Tom Brady and Robert Kraft worked together for decades. More accurately, Brady worked for Kraft. Now as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brady works against Kraft.

Watch Patriots CEO and chairman Robert Kraft's press conference after decision to fire New England head coach Jerod Mayo.

He fired Mayo, his hand-picked successor to Bill Belichick, and leapt back into the unknown; a leap that left the rest of the Patriots hanging, with the future of every coach and front-office member suspended until further notice. With all eyes on him, Kraft must now stick the landing.

You got your team back. Now it's time to send a message to your fan base. Hiring Mike Vrabel is the first step.

Jerod Mayo, Antonio Pierce, Ran Carthon and Tom Telesco struggled. But the Pats, Raiders and Titans owners also deserve blame for results.

One NFL Insider called the Patriots' head coaching search a "sham" aimed at circumventing the league's Rooney Rule

Mayo, named Bill Belichick’s successor a year ago, was fired on Sunday after the Patriots’ 23-16 win over the Bills in the regular-season finale. The former Patriots linebacker, 38, posted a 4-13 record as head coach. Kraft added Monday he “went back and forth” on the situation over the past month.

Even though owner Robert Kraft quickly decided to fire Jerod Mayo after the Patriots finished 4-13 and last in the AFC East for the second straight year, Kraft made sure to emphasize that he believed Mayo could be a successful NFL head coach.