Robert Kraft Says New Patriots Coach Will Have ‘Big Input’ On This

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England is believed to be one of the most desirable landing spots for prospective head coaches this offseason, and that belief perhaps just got even stronger.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft held a press conference on Monday, taking accountability after he fired Jerod Mayo following Sunday’s season-ending win over the Buffalo Bills. It’s safe to say the primary focus was related to the latter’s potential replacement, but one of the major themes to be unveiled had to do with that person’s overall role.

The Patriots are giving their next head coach some pretty substantial power.

“He is going to have a big input into who the players are and who the coaches are,” Kraft said. “It’ll be his decision.”

Kraft didn’t reveal anything groundbreaking when it comes to allowing the new head coach to pick his own staff, but that part about the players sure makes it seem like he’ll have some level of personnel control, too. Mayo, for instance, routinely deferred to executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf when it came to roster decisions. Wolf will be retained in his current role — while joining senior personnel advisor Alonzo Highsmith as the front office’s primary voice in the organization’s coaching search — but won’t be the only person with roster input moving forward.

New England will keep the current coaching staff in place until the new head coach is ultimately hired, according to Kraft — though there will undoubtedly be a fairly large overture.