Details Of Impending Coaching Search After Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo

FOXBORO, Mass. — As the Patriots embark on their first head coaching search in more than two decades, owner Robert Kraft wants to make sure the team gets it right.

Kraft spoke to the media at Gillette Stadium on Monday, less than 24 hours after the Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo. Kraft shouldered the blame for Mayo’s disastrous one season but couldn’t stomach the regression he saw from the team during the second half of the season.

Kraft provided details about the next coaching search, including who will be involved and what he will be looking for.

Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith will be involved in the search, along with both Robert and Jonathan Kraft. Wolf will be “staying on” after a season in which Kraft claims the personnel department evolved.

The longtime Patriots owner said there isn’t a specific trait he’ll but looking for, but rather a collection of traits and someone who can help the franchise get back to the playoffs.

“It’s really a composite,” Kraft said. “You need someone who players can relate to and respond to, but they need to have a team around them that has product knowledge, in-game adjustments, knowing what their system is, just a lot of things coming together.”

Kraft said the Patriots want to interview as many candidates as they can, pending that they feel those candidates will help them get back on track.

Kraft did not name any specific candidates and deflected when asked about the reports linking the Patriots to Mike Vrabel, one of the top candidates this offseason.

The Patriots reportedly have interviews lined up with both Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Vrabel, but both have gained interest from outside of New England as well.