Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Retires From NFL At Age 29

Jerod Mayo, linebacker for the New England Patriots, has announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 29. Mayo was the defensive rookie of the year in 2008.

Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Retires From NFL At Age 29

The linebacker announced the news in an Instagram post on Tuesday: “After a lot of thought [my wife] Chantel and I take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for what we consider a life changing event … that of becoming a New England Patriot for the past 8 years,” Mayo wrote.

He then added, “We are extremely grateful to ‘Thundercat’ [Patriots owner Robert Kraft], [Patriots president] Jonathan [Kraft], the Kraft family, Coach Belichick, the Pats organization, and the most amazing fans in contributing to these pages of our lives. As my family and I prepare for the future be sure that the Pats memories will always hold a special place in our hearts. #51 JMayo.”

Over the course of the last three seasons, Mayo has dealt with knee, shoulder and pectoral injuries. He was unlikely to be kept by the Patriots this season anyway due to his $11.4 million cap salary, the second highest on the team after QB Tom Brady. 

Mayo could also potentially become a coach. Fellow Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower stated, according to the team’s website, that Mayo is very intelligent and “could be a defensive coordinator” right away if he so wanted.

Mayo was also selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2010 and 2012, and named a team captain by his teammates in 2009 and 2015. Julian Edelman and Chandler Jones paid tribute to him on Twitter on Tuesday.

PHOTO: ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 12: Jerod Mayo #51 of the New England Patriots is carted off the field after an injury against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 12, 2014 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)