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Detroit Lions: 3 options to be the new defensive coordinator in 2020

By Brenden Armour

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: NFL players Tom Brady (L) and Jerod Mayo (R) look on as honoree Robert K. Kraft speaks on stage during the 2013 Carnegie Hall Medal Of Excellence Gala at The Waldorf=Astoria on June 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 13: NFL players Tom Brady (L) and Jerod Mayo (R) look on as honoree Robert K. Kraft speaks on stage during the 2013 Carnegie Hall Medal Of Excellence Gala at The Waldorf=Astoria on June 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

Option One: Jerod Mayo, Inside Linebackers Coach, Patriots

Mayo is absolutely one of the favorites, if not the overall favorite, to land the open defensive coordinator job. Mayo has a long history with Patricia and there is a lot of mutual respect between the two.

Patricia believed that Mayo would eventually become a coach, saying that “he’s going to be a great coach” and that “he was that cerebral type of guy that you always had those conversations (with) about game-planning”.

Mayo was widely seen as one of the smartest defenders in the NFL when he played and has many awards and accolades to his name to back up his play and instincts. He was captain of the defense seven times, made the Pro Bowl twice, was named the AP Rookie of the Year, and made the All-Pro team once.

In 2019, as the inside linebacker coach in New England, the defense was one of the best in the NFL all year. His linebackers were impactful all year as the two leading tacklers on the defense were linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower. The two linebackers both had over 70 total tackles each, over five sacks each, and five forced turnovers between the two of them.

Adding Mayo to Patricia would give the Lions two minds that both know the kind of defense that is trying to be run in Detroit right now, and they would be able to put together their two minds together and possibly right the sinking ship in Detroit.

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