Jerod Mayo's wife seems ready to air out some dirty laundry.

The New England Patriots fired Mayo, who had been handpicked by Bill Belichick to take over, after just one season.

Granted, the team went 4-13, and his decisions and quotes garnered some criticism, but many have been on the attack against the Pats, saying that with his roster, he had not been given a fair shake.

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Well, Mayo's wife, Chantel Rostant, went unhinged on her Instagram story, insinuating that the franchise has lost its "class."

"It never even crossed our minds to tell the truth….but I couldn't even fathom all the lies we've read that are being told to save face. What happened to the class?????" Rostant wrote on her Instagram story.

"We've been taking the high road and letting everyone do their thing since Sunday. But playing with someone's name won't be tolerated. I bet the fake stories will stop before the real ones start."

Pats legend Rob Gronkowski, who played with Mayo and was coached by Belichick, reamed the Patriots in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

VIKINGS-RAMS PLAYOFF GAME MOVED AWAY FROM LOS ANGELES DUE TO WILDFIRES

I felt like it was kind of unfair to him, because he took a team over where it was gonna need some time to build and develop to get back to the winning ways." he said. "I mean, the roster was depleted, Jerod was a rookie head coach, and I felt like he needed another year to be able to really judge him based on how he would develop and grow after that first season," Gronk said.

With a loss in their season finale, the Pats would have clinched the No. 1 pick in April, but they stole a victory and are now slated to pick fourth.

After a 10-7 season in 2021, the Patriots have been trending in the wrong direction, going 8-9 in 2022 and 4-13 in the past two seasons now.

This was the first season sans Belichick since 1999, as Belichick had coached the Pats for 24 seasons.

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The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo after just one season on Monday, and a report on Wednesday revealed telling details about his first year as NFL head coach and what the lead up to that decision looked like. 

The Patriots closed out the season with a win over AFC East rivals, the Buffalo Bills, but it wasn’t enough for owner Robert Kraft to want to stick with Mayo. 

"After the game I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," Kraft said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team's performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped."

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Mayo had developed in the Patriots’ system, first as a player winning a Super Bowl during his eight-year career and later as a linebackers coach under Bill Belichick. But it seems that the "Patriots’ way" didn’t carry over into his coaching style. 

According to a report from The Athletic, one incident that stood out to those close to the situation was a plane ride home after a loss to the Arizona Cardinals last month.

The report claimed that instead of reviewing film with the coaching staff, Mayo opted to play cards with the players.

"But in a move that surprised some at the front of the plane after such a lopsided loss, according to a team source, Mayo, the team’s first-year head coach who had been handpicked by owner Robert Kraft to succeed Bill Belichick, left his spot near the front and went back to where some players had gathered to play cards, choosing to hang out there while his assistants watched film," Chad Graff’s report read. 

PATRIOTS OWNER ROBERT KRAFT SHOULDERS BLAME AFTER FIRING JEROD MAYO: 'WHOLE SITUATION IS ON ME'

"Look, there are a lot of ways to do the job," a team source on the plane told Graff. "It’s not that Jerod’s was definitely wrong. But I can’t say I’ve seen that before."

Other sources added that Mayo’s attempt to differentiate himself from Belichick may have been his downfall.

"Mayo, they felt, tried too hard to be 180 degrees different from Belichick, then struggled to apply and uphold discipline after positioning himself as a players’ coach," the report continued. 

For Kraft, he shouldered much of what led to Mayo’s troubles. 

"This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Jerod. Because I put him in an untenable situation," Kraft said during a press conference on Tuesday. "I know he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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When Bill Belichick became the head coach at the University of North Carolina, he adamantly said he did not go there "to leave."

However, one of his former players, Rob Gronkowski, disagrees.

Belichick, after being off an NFL sideline for the first time in nearly 50 years, agreed last month to become the next head coach at UNC, saying it was a dream fulfilled to get into the college ranks.

However, Belichick has obviously found his success with the National Football League, and Gronk believes Belichick still has his eyes on returning home.

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When asked during a recent interview with Fox News Digital whether he believed Belichick would retire as a Tar Heel, he said he did not think so. 

"I think if Bill has success, he's gonna eventually hand that program off to his son, whose son is just developing to be a future head coach," Gronkowski said. "Love his son, and he's doing a great job in the defensive ranks of college… So I believe that Coach Belichick will have some good success at UNC, but I believe that his heart truly belongs in the NFL ranks, and he's eventually gonna go back to the NFL if it's in three years or four years. But I think he ends his career coaching as a head coach for an NFL team."

Belichick coached the New England Patriots for 24 seasons, winning six Super Bowls during his tenure – three of those came with Gronkowski as his star tight end. After the 2023 season, the coach and team mutually agreed to part ways.

Without Belichick, the Pats had one of their worst seasons in recent memory, going 4-13, although Drake Maye gave fans something to be excited about. Entering Sunday, they owned the first overall pick, but with their victory, they will now pick fourth. Gronkowski, who recently partnered with Bounty, says the paper towel brand may just be enough to clean up the current mess in Foxboro.

"I'm about a couple minutes away right now.
If I just walk over, grab my Bounty paper towel, it's messy over there right now, and I just use the Bounty paper towels with a couple of wipes, man, I'll probably be head coach right after that," he joked.

Gronkowski joined fellow future Hall of Famer Drew Brees as his Bounty Wingman ahead of the playoffs, because as Buffalo native Gronk says, "You can't have football without wings, and you can't have wings without Bounty."

TITANS, WITH NO. 1 DRAFT PICK, FIRE GENERAL MANAGER RAN CARTHON

"That's why I'm the full package here. I'm all three of those: I love football ball, I love wings, and I love Bounty. And Drew Brees and I are going down to New Orleans, we're gonna dominate the city and we're gonna clean up our mess with the Bounty paper towels," Gronk, who, surprisingly, has never been out around the town, said of his partnership with the Saints legend.

In moving on from Belichick, the Patriots went to Jerod Mayo, a handpicked selection by Belichick himself years ago. But, after just one season, he was axed, and Gronk was not pleased.

 "I was surprised to hear about Jerod getting fired. I mean, I felt like it was kind of unfair to him, because he took a team over where it was gonna need some time to build and develop to get back to the winning ways." he said. "I mean, the roster was depleted, Jerod was a rookie head coach, and I felt like he needed another year to be able to really judge him based on how he would develop and grow after that first season. But obviously, just after the first season, it was apparent that [Robert] Kraft felt like he was just not the guy to build a culture around back to its winning ways. So therefore, Kraft was just wasting no time and let go of Jerod's duties.

"Now I feel like Kraft will be doing all he can in the process of hiring a new head coach that he believes will turn around this program and get them back into the playoffs as soon as possible. It's kind of an ugly situation, but I feel for both sides. You gotta win, but also, I just feel like it wasn't enough time to evaluate Jerod Mayo."

The overwhelming speculation is that Mike Vrabel will man the Pats – he played for New England and became the coach of the Tennessee Titans after his playing days ended.

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Bill Belichick knows his former pupil and New England Patriots successor Jerod Mayo was fired after just one season. 

But what's happening with the team he won six Super Bowls with is the least of his worries at the moment. 

During his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Belichick, who was in suit and tie on a recruiting trip for his new gig as the North Carolina Tar Heels head football coach, said the Patriots never gave him a ring as they decided to fire Mayo after going 4-13 this year.

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"The Patriots’ situation, honestly, I don’t have too much of a comment on that," Belichick told McAfee and his crew. "Robert Kraft, Jonathan Kraft, Robyn Glaser, they’re the decision makers there.

"Mayo was hand-picked by Robert, but in the end, the decision-making is something they’d have to comment on.

"I really don’t know from the outside looking in. They haven’t called me and asked, so I don’t know."

PATRIOTS OWNER ROBERT KRAFT SHOULDERS BLAME AFTER FIRING JEROD MAYO: ‘WHOLE SITUATION IS ON ME’

Of course, McAfee had to ask Belichick after his replacement being one-and-done in Foxborough, but a new journey for the legendary coach is well under way as he continues to try and build his first roster at Chapel Hill. 

As Belichick mentioned, Kraft hand-picked Mayo, who was already on Belichick’s staff, as the Patriots’ next head coach this past offseason. It came after the team and Belichick mutually parted ways following a 4-13 season, ending a 24-year relationship that brought about arguably football’s best head coach of all-time. 

Mayo played for the Patriots from 2008-15, winning a Super Bowl with the franchise during the 2014 campaign. Belichick eventually brought him onto his coaching staff in 2019 as a linebackers coach before Kraft made his choice last year. 

But Kraft shouldered the blame on Monday when addressing reporters about Mayo, saying that the "whole situation is on me" in regard to his decision to let Mayo go after only one season. 

"I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation," Kraft added. "I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job.

"In the end, I'm a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully championships."

While the Patriots embark on yet another head coach search, in which another Belichick former player in Mike Vrabel is expected to be top of mind as Mayo's replacement, the 72-year-old coach's inaugural season with the Tar Heels has a large spotlight on it, given this will be Belichick's first-ever college gig in his illustrious career.

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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft released a statement on Sunday night regarding Jerod Mayo’s firing, as he believed it was the right move to make after just one season at the helm. 

Now, Kraft is solely focused on moving quickly with yet another head coaching search after he and Bill Belichick parted ways before the 2024 season. 

Before he discussed the plan this time around, though, Kraft shouldered the blame after another 4-13 campaign.

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"This whole situation is on me," Kraft told reporters on Monday, via ESPN. "I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation. I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job.

"In the end, I'm a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully championships."

Teams are making calls already to potential head coach candidates, and the Patriots are wasting no time either. 

ESPN'S STEPHEN A SMITH ON PATRIOTS FIRING JEROD MAYO: ‘THEY CALL IT BLACK MONDAY FOR A REASON’

New England has pinged the Detroit Lions about a formal request to interview star offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. And, of course, Kraft was asked about Mike Vrabel, another former player of his who has much more head coaching experience in the NFL than Mayo, who was leading a team for the first time. 

"There are some wonderful people that we’ve heard about," Kraft responded when asked about Vrabel, who most recently was head coach of the Tennessee Titans before his firing after the 2023 season. "I’d rather respond to that after I’ve seen everyone. We want to interview as many people as we can that we think can help us get to that position that we want to be in."

As for the process, Kraft’s son, Jonathan, who serves as team president, will be involved, as well as senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf.  Kraft’s front office will also remain the same during this coaching transition. 

Mayo’s final game as head coach had NFL Draft implications on Sunday, as Joe Milton III’s breakout game against the Buffalo Bills lost the Patriots the No. 1 overall pick. Now, they will be choosing fourth overall come April. 

But Kraft didn’t appear bothered by Mayo coaching the Patriots to a final victory to end the season, as he said the former New England linebacker was informed of the decision after the game. 

"He was a man," Kraft said of Mayo’s reaction to the firing. "Look, it was one of the more difficult things I've had to do in my life because I had such affection for him. And I believe in him. I really do believe as he gets more experience, he'll be successful. He was a gentleman and accepted it that way."

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ESPN star Stephen A. Smith reacted to the New England Patriots’ decision to fire Jerod Mayo after only one season at the helm.

Smith lamented on "First Take" that Mayo didn’t get enough of an opportunity to develop as a head coach and lead the team. He said the availability of Mike Vrabel on the coaching market also played a factor.

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"This is about Mike Vrabel. That's who they wanted. No question about it," Smith said. "He’s the more seasoned and experienced coach. I don't like this. They call it Black Monday for a reason. This certainly typifies it. I don't know why it's not called White Monday. Doug Pederson got fired from Jacksonville. He deserved that firing. 

"Jerod Mayo clearly was not given a lengthy enough opportunity considering what Bill Belichick left him with from a talent perspective, considering the record, considering the way the team performed."

Smith added that he believed the Patriots’ top brass "turned" on Mayo over the course of the season.

"He didn’t help himself with some of the comments he made calling the team soft… But no matter what we can point to, at the end of the day the folks in New England were turning against Jerod Mayo. We all know this," he said. 

"And I think it has something to do with the fact that Vrabel is available and that’s what’s really going on here. They don’t want to lose him to a team like the New York Jets. They want to be in the running, and they can’t do that with him as the head coach."

The Patriots were 4-13 in Mayo’s lone season.

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New England team owner Robert Kraft made the announcement after New England defeated the Buffalo Bills in the final game of the season.

"After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," Kraft said. 

"I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evidence, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach."

Kraft went on to say that the move comes as he feels the fans deserve a better product on the field moving forward.

"Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset. We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years," Kraft’s statement read. "I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time."

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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Rob Gronkowski appeared to be upset with how the New England Patriots handled Jerod Mayo’s first season as head coach, which ended with his dismissal Sunday following a win over the Buffalo Bills.

Mayo was hired to replace Bill Belichick last year after the legendary head coach and the organization parted ways following six Super Bowls and two dynastic periods.

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The Patriots struggled in Mayo’s first season, finishing 4-13. But Gronkowski expressed that he didn’t believe Mayo had enough time to develop as a head coach.

"I was shocked by that. And to happen that soon was a shocker to a lot of people," he said on FOX. "Especially here at the desk, I think we were all surprised by that. I think it was unfair to coach Jerod Mayo. He had never had the chance to develop as a head coach. 

"He was just a rookie himself in that department. If you judge a coach by their first year, that’s really not appropriate."

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Mayo and Gronkowski were teammates for a few years with the Patriots.

The Patriots were far from playoff contenders entering the season. New England drafted rookie quarterback Drake Maye in the first round and didn’t start him until a few weeks into the regular season.

New England was 30th in points scored and 31st in yards gained, while finishing 22nd in points and yards allowed.

Patriots team owner Robert Kraft announced the Mayo decision after the Patriots’ win.

"After the game I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," Kraft said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team's performances throughout the season did not ascend as I had hoped."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bill Belichick's replacement has lasted just one season. 

The New England Patriots have fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo after going 4-13 in his first and only season, including a Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills which lost the franchise the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed the reports of Mayo’s firing in a lengthy statement where he explained the front office will remain intact heading into the offseason. 

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"After the game today, I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," Kraft said. 

"I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evidence, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach."

Kraft went on to say that the move comes as he feels the fans deserve a better product on the field moving forward. 

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"Since buying the team, I have always considered myself and my family as custodians of a public asset. We have tremendous fans who expect and deserve a better product than we have delivered in recent years," Kraft’s statement read. "I apologize for that. I have given much thought and consideration as to what actions I can take to expedite our return to championship contention and determined this move was the best option at this time."

After a 10-7 season in 2021, the Patriots have been trending in the wrong direction, going 8-9 in 2022 and 4-13 in the past two seasons now. 

This season, however, saw a change of guard at head coach for the first time since 2000 as the Patriots and Belichick mutually parted ways after he led a dynasty to six Super Bowl wins alongside Tom Brady. 

As Kraft points out, Mayo understood the pedigree to be a Patriot as both a player and a coach, leading to the decision to make him Belichick’s replacement as he was already in the building and the players respected him. 

But the Patriots also understood that Mayo was inheriting a roster that was among the least strong in the NFL entering the 2024 season, and the projected win total of 4.5 for the year reflected what experts believed would occur in Mayo’s inaugural campaign. 

But Kraft and the Patriots seem to feel that the lack of talent on the roster isn’t the only thing that needs to improve heading into the 2025 season later this year. 

Mayo did make some interesting headlines throughout the year, including publicly calling his team soft after the team’s sixth straight loss back in October. He also noted the Patriots would "burn some cash" in free agency right after being named head coach, and he had to redact that statement later to say the team would be wise with their cap room. 

Mayo did, however, play to win despite quarterback Drake Maye, the team’s No. 3 overall pick in 2024, handing the reins over to his backup, Joe Milton III, who had a breakout game in Week 18. 

The Patriots won 23-16 with Milton going 22-for-29 for 241 yards with a touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte, who finished with 117 yards through the air. Milton also rushed for a touchdown himself in the game where the Bills rested most of its starters. 

The win, though, lost the Patriots the No. 1 overall pick as the Tennessee Titans assume that position in the NFL Draft. The Patriots will choose fourth overall behind the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants as well. 

Looking ahead to the head coach search, Mike Vrabel, the former Patriot and veteran head coach, has already been floated as a potential candidate the Patriots could bring in to replace Mayo. 

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New England Patriots fans seem to have had enough of Jerod Mayo as the head coach’s first season at the helm winds down.

Reporters in Foxborough, Massachusetts, who took in the Patriots’ 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night heard "Fire Mayo" chants coming from the stands at Gillette Stadium.

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New England fell to 3-13 with the loss. If the Patriots lose next week, three wins would be their lowest total since they finished 2-14 in 1992. The team was 4-13 last season – the last year Bill Belichick was at the helm. Mayo took over for Belichick in January.

Mayo was asked about the chants after the game.

"You hear those things. But at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats, and we've got to play better," Mayo told reporters, via ESPN. "If we play better, we don't have to hear that stuff."

The offense has been among the heavily scrutinized issues for the Patriots.

2024 NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: FOUR MORE POSTSEASON SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS IN WEEK 17

Patriots president Jonathan Kraft appeared to get caught on camera complaining about the play-calling during the team’s loss against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago. The offense hasn’t gotten much better since then.

Behind rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are 30th in the league in points scored and 31st in yards gained. Mayo’s defense is 25th in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed.

Deatrich Wise Jr., who has been with the Patriots since 2017, and Davon Godchaux each backed Mayo after the loss to the Chargers.

Wise said he thought he and his teammates should keep believing in Mayo.

"The guy's in his first season. It's not going to be golden. We didn't expect to win a Super Bowl this year. I get it, nobody wants to get beaten 40-7, but the chant is ridiculous," Godchaux added. 

"Everybody plays a part in this. It isn't just Jerod Mayo. Players, coaches, front office. We just have to get better as a whole organization," he said. "I believe in this organization.

"We just had probably the best team in the NFL right now on the ropes last week [in Buffalo]. I don't believe in all that other ridiculous stuff. The guy is in his first year. It's just ridiculous."

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New England Patriots fans seem to have had enough of Jerod Mayo as the head coach’s first season at the helm winds down.

Reporters in Foxborough, Massachusetts, who took in the Patriots’ 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night heard "Fire Mayo" chants coming from the stands at Gillette Stadium.

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New England fell to 3-13 with the loss. If the Patriots lose next week, three wins would be their lowest total since they finished 2-14 in 1992. The team was 4-13 last season – the last year Bill Belichick was at the helm. Mayo took over for Belichick in January.

Mayo was asked about the chants after the game.

"You hear those things. But at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats, and we've got to play better," Mayo told reporters, via ESPN. "If we play better, we don't have to hear that stuff."

The offense has been among the heavily scrutinized issues for the Patriots.

2024 NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: FOUR MORE POSTSEASON SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS IN WEEK 17

Patriots president Jonathan Kraft appeared to get caught on camera complaining about the play-calling during the team’s loss against the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago. The offense hasn’t gotten much better since then.

Behind rookie quarterback Drake Maye, the Patriots are 30th in the league in points scored and 31st in yards gained. Mayo’s defense is 25th in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed.

Deatrich Wise Jr., who has been with the Patriots since 2017, and Davon Godchaux each backed Mayo after the loss to the Chargers.

Wise said he thought he and his teammates should keep believing in Mayo.

"The guy's in his first season. It's not going to be golden. We didn't expect to win a Super Bowl this year. I get it, nobody wants to get beaten 40-7, but the chant is ridiculous," Godchaux added. 

"Everybody plays a part in this. It isn't just Jerod Mayo. Players, coaches, front office. We just have to get better as a whole organization," he said. "I believe in this organization.

"We just had probably the best team in the NFL right now on the ropes last week [in Buffalo]. I don't believe in all that other ridiculous stuff. The guy is in his first year. It's just ridiculous."

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The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff berth in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season, beating the New England Patriots 40-7 on Saturday.

The Kansas City Chiefs have already won the AFC West, so the Chargers will make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. 

The Chargers started out red-hot, going up 17-0 before the Patriots finally responded.

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Quarterback Justin Herbert hit wide receiver Derius Davis with a strike, connecting with him for a 23-yard touchdown. On their ensuing offensive possession, kicker Cameron Dicker hit a 27-yard field goal to put the Chargers up 10-0.

Following the field goal, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye couldn’t convert the pitch to the running back, and the fumble was recovered by safety Derwin James Jr. to give the Chargers good field position at midfield. 

Herbert capitalized on the good field position and hit rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey for a six-yard touchdown to go up 17-0.

While the Chargers took a commanding lead, Maye left the sidelines temporarily in the first quarter to be checked for a concussion.

The Patriots rookie quarterback was scrambling, trying to convert a third-and-four along the sideline when Chargers defensive back Cam Hart hit Maye up high, where there was helmet-to-helmet contact. 

LONGTIME SPORTS ANCHOR, ANNOUNCER GREG GUMBEL DIES AT 78

Maye fumbled the ball upon being hit, but the Patriots recovered it.

After the hit, Maye stayed down for a moment before eventually getting up. 

He was initially evaluated in the blue medical tent, and then was taken to the locker room, where he was then cleared to return to play. 

The lone Patriots highlight of the game came when Maye got the Chargers to jump offside, then with pressure in his face, threw a 36-yard dime to wide receiver Demario Douglas for a touchdown.

The touchdown cut the Chargers' lead to 17-7, but those would be the only points the Patriots would score all day.

Herbert led the Chargers' offense down and gave Dicker a chance for a field goal before halftime. 

Dicker was good from 38 yards out, and the Chargers took a 20-7 halftime lead. 

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The Chargers kept their foot on the gas, coming out of the second half. 

The Patriots got the ball first coming out of the half but went three and out.

Then Herbert led a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive, capped off by a Ladd McConkey 40-yard touchdown catch, to put the Chargers up 27-7, and effectively sealed the game in the third quarter.

Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins scored a touchdown in his return from injury in the fourth quarter.

Herbert was sensational in the win, completing 26-38 passing attempts for 284 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback was pulled with over ten minutes left in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach. 

McConkey passed Keenan Allen for the most catches for a rookie in a season in Chargers history, with eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. 

This was the first time the Chargers scored 40 points in a game since 2021.

Maye was 12 of 22, with 117 yards and one touchdown, with six carries for 32 yards in the loss. 

The last time the Chargers were in the playoffs was the 2022-2023 season, when they had one of the biggest collapses in NFL history when they lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-30 after leading 27-0 at one point. 

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The football community has rallied around NFL legend Randy Moss after the former wide receiver announced he had been diagnosed with cancer, during an Instagram livestream Friday.

Moss said he had spent six days in the hospital undergoing surgery. The former Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots wide receiver said the doctors had found cancer in his bile duct, "right between the pancreas and the liver."

"I am a cancer survivor," Moss said. "Some trying times, but we made it through."

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Moss’s former teammates and teams posted statements on social media in support of the former wide receiver.

"Mental toughness in human form. We’re all with you 81. Love ya bubs," former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman posted. 

NFL LEGEND RANDY MOSS ANNOUNCES CANCER DIAGNOSIS

"Love you Randy. Dominating opponents is what you have always done and you will sure do it again! You got this!" Rob Gronkowski posted.

Moss stepped away from his role as an analyst on ESPN’s "Sunday NFL Countdown" on Dec. 6.

"As soon as I get healthy to get back out with guys, I will be on set. . . . Hopefully, I can be with you guys soon," Moss said.

"My goal is to get back on television with my team."

The Pro Football Hall of Famer played 14 seasons in the NFL and is second in the Vikings' all-time receiving yards with 9,316 yards.

The six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro will turn 48 in February. 

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Bill Belichick isn't going to Chapel Hill blindly.

After spending nearly five decades on NFL sidelines, the eight-time Super Bowl champion took his first-ever college coaching job with the Tar Heels.

He was officially introduced Thursday.

Early reports of Belichick's interest in the job were often scoffed at, but it's clear he was interested from the jump.

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He was so into the job he had spoken with several of the school's most famed alumni, including Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor. Belichick also said he spoke with Julius Peppers.

Jordan starred in Chapel Hill before becoming the greatest basketball player of all time, and Taylor was a mainstay in UNC's defense before he was drafted by the New York Giants and coached by Belichick. The duo won two Super Bowls together with Big Blue.

Peppers, an NFL great, also played basketball for the school.

In typical Belichick fashion, he did not reveal what they spoke about, but he said they were all "very supportive."

BILL BELICHICK SAID HE ALWAYS WANTED TO COACH IN COLLEGE AFTER TAKING UNC JOB: 'DREAM COME TRUE'

"There's been a ton of support," he added, "from ex-players and other UNC alums. This is a great brand and a great support system here. So, I'm excited to spend more time with these people."

It's a five-year deal for Belichick, who added that he did not "come [to Chapel Hill] to leave."

Belichick, 72, interviewed for at least two NFL jobs last offseason after he and the New England Patriots parted ways after 24 seasons and six championships.

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Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has spent much of the ongoing NFL season in the media spotlight. 

While Belichick interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons in January, the franchise opted against extending an offer to a coach. Belichick did not appear to draw much interest from any other NFL team, but his regular appearances on ESPN's "ManningCast" and the CW's "Inside the NFL" have kept him relatively close to football.

But the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach seems to still be interested in coaching. 

During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" earlier this week, Belichick confirmed he had talks with the North Carolina Tar Heels about their head coaching vacancy.

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While it remains unclear if Belichick will be on the sideline in Chapel Hill next season, another former NFL coach chimed in on the developing situation.

Bruce Arians, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in the 2021 Super Bowl, admitted he was "very surprised" his contemporary showed interest in coaching at the collegiate level. Arians also offered Belichick some advice.

TOM BRADY EXPLAINS WHY HIS ANSWER IS 'NO' TO BILL BELICHICK HEADING TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL

"I’m very, very surprised. I thought for sure he’d wait for the NFL hiring process to play out," Arians said during a recent appearance on the "Scoop City" podcast. "There’s some good things in going back to college, but I had no patience with rookies. I damn sure don’t have patience for freshmen." 

Arians and Belichick are both 72. Arians stepped away from coaching and moved into a consultant's role with the Bucs in 2022.

"If I'm gonna give Bill one bit of advice, you better bring a lot of patience with you," Arians said. "Dealing with rookies making money, but now freshmen making money? It’s gotta be ridiculous trying to coach those guys."

Arians' coaching career began at the college level. He spent time working for Mississippi State, Alabama and other programs.

If Belichick winds up at UNC or another college program, he will have to carefully navigate name, image and likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal. The NCAA transfer portal opened earlier this week. NIL and the portal have drastically altered the college football landscape over the past couple of years.

Belichick shared some details about the makeup of a college program if he were a head coach.

"If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL," he said. "It would be a professional program — training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."

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Randy Moss, the legendary Hall of Fame receiver, shook the football world a bit last week when he said he was stepping away from his duties on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" to deal with a personal health challenge. 

Moss touched on that health challenge on Dec. 1 during the broadcast, where he was seen wearing sunglasses. He said he was "battling something internally," though he didn't get into details.

"(Moss) briefly addressed the matter at the start of the show on Dec. 1. For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating Countdown with his insight and passion. He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming back when he is ready," ESPN’s statement said. 

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During FOX NFL Sunday, several of Moss' ex-New England Patriots teammates, including Tom Brady, shared their heartfelt support for Moss. 

"One of the all-time great teammates and friends, in touch to this day,' Brady said during FOX's broadcast. "Our heart obviously is with you, our prayers, all our positive energy.  We love you so much, man."

NFL LEGEND RANDY MOSS STEPPING AWAY FROM ESPN FOR ‘EXTENDED TIME’ DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES

Rob Gronkowski added: "We're thinking about you, Randy. We love you, man."

Moss, 47, told ESPN viewers that he has "some great doctors around me," and that "I couldn't miss the show" this past week. He even cracked a joke, calling his sunglasses "Michigan turnover glasses," which got some chuckles out of the panel. 

Moss is one of the greatest wide receivers to ever step foot on an NFL field, tallying four All-Pro honors and six Pro Bowls over his 14 years in the league. 

He is fourth all-time in receiving yards with 15,292 on 982 receptions, while being the Minnesota Vikings' franchise leader in receiving yards with 9,316 over his eight years with the organization. 

Moss will turn 48 in February. 

Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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News of Bill Belichick interviewing for the vacant North Carolina Tar Heels head coach vacancy took the football world by surprise this past week, but one of his former pupils cannot see him actually taking the job. 

Tom Brady, alongside his former New England Patriots teammates Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, discussed Belichick’s interview with UNC during "Fox NFL Sunday," where he was blunt about not believing Belichick would go to college football next season. 

"There’s a lot of things he can do, and obviously he’s tremendous, and even showing his personality. But getting out there on the recruiting trail and dealing with all these college kids," Brady said. 

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The recruiting side of things is what Brady believes Belichick would not want to deal with, as he jokingly made up a scenario of his old coach speaking with a recruit. 

"’Listen, do you really want to come here?’" Brady said, acting as Belichick. "’I mean, we don’t really want you anyway, but I guess you could come, we’ll figure out if you play.’"

It was not just Brady who felt Belichick would not translate well to college ball, as Edelman and Gronkowski gave their takes. 

BILL BELICHICK INTERVIEWS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL JOB AFTER LEGENDARY COACH LEAVES: REPORT

"Can you imagine NIL, and all that nonsense?" Gronkowski said. 

Edelman added, "Can you imagine Bill on a couch recruiting an 18-year-old?" 

Belichick, after not getting a different head coaching gig in the NFL after he and the Patriots mutually parted ways earlier this year, has been in the sports media space throughout this season. 

However, according to Inside Carolina, Belichick interviewed for the job Mack Brown used to hold with the Tar Heels. 

Brown announced he would be leaving the program ahead of the team’s final regular-season game against N.C. State. 

There are already a few NFL coaching vacancies that will need to be filled after this regular season, as the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Chicago Bears have all fired their head coaches mid-season. Several others could open up as well, depending on how these final games shake out. 

It will be interesting to see where Belichick’s name pops up once the season is over in the NFL, but it appears he might want his first-ever college gig depending on how his talk with the Tar Heels went. 

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement on Friday. 

"(Moss) briefly addressed the matter at the start of the show on Dec. 1. For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating Countdown with his insight and passion. He has ESPN’s full support, and we look forward to welcoming back when he is ready," ESPN’s statement said. 

Moss, 47, revealed last week that he was battling an illness as he addressed why he was wearing glasses. 

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"I just wanted to let the viewers know that me and my wife and my family are battling something internally. I have some great doctors around me. I couldn’t miss the show. I wanted to be here with you guys," Moss said during last week's ESPN’s "Sunday NFL Countdown."

"I feel great. But if you see me with these ‘Michigan turnover glasses’ that I have on, it’s not being disrespectful because I’m on television. It’s because I’m battling something. I need all the prayer warriors. God bless you all. Thanks for the prayers."

NFL LEGEND RANDY MOSS REVEALS HE'S BATTLING HEALTH ISSUE

The former Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots star wide receiver did not say what he was specifically dealing with. 

Moss worked through the show with the illness last week, as his ESPN co-hosts Mike Greenberg, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Tedy Bruschi wore glasses with him. 

"It’s beautifully said. All for one and one for all. If he’s wearing glasses, we’re all wearing glasses today," Greenberg said.

Moss played 14 seasons in the NFL and is second in the Vikings' all-time receiving yards with 9,316 yards.

The six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro will turn 48 in February. 

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. 

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Bill Belichick could be headed to parts unknown to him.

The 72-year-old spent nearly 50 years on the NFL sidelines, but a new report says he may just be interested in heading to the college ranks.

According to Inside Carolina, the legendary coach has interviewed for the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.

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Belichick would replace another legend in Mack Brown, who owns a 288-155-1 record with UNC, Texas, Tulane and Appalachian State.

Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways after the 2023 season, which was Belichick's 24th season with the team. He won six Super Bowls while there, and he notched another pair with the New York Giants as their defensive coordinator.

UNC announced that Brown would leave the program ahead of their final regular-season game against N.C. State, a matchup which resulted in a melee following a flag-planting incident by the Wolfpack on Saturday.

BEARS INTERIM HEAD COACH HAS LOST OVER 20 POUNDS AMID TEAM'S COACHING STAFF CHANGES

Belichick's name has swirled around the rumor mill amid recent coaching changes, with several others possibly on the horizon.

He interviewed for openings with both the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers in the offseason, but each went in different directions.

The eight-time Super Bowl champion has since become a media sensation, often making appearances on the "ManningCast" on "Monday Night Football." He was also an analyst during this year's NFL Draft.

This is Belichick's first reported interview since making the NFL rounds in the offseason.

Belichick's father, Steve, coached at Navy, but this would be Belichick's first college gig ever. He became a special assistant for the Baltimore Colts in 1975, and his first head coaching nod came 16 years later when he was tapped as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

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The Indianapolis Colts have been through the wringer this season and yet their playoff hopes are still alive.

Anthony Richardson led the Colts on a 19-play, 80-yard drive that lasted more than 5 minutes to score a touchdown with 12 seconds left on a 3-yard pass to Alec Pierce. The Colts decided to attempt the 2-point try instead of kick it for the tie.

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Richardson ran the ball in and put Indianapolis up 25-24.

Drake Maye got the offense down the field in those 12 seconds and set up a Joey Slye 68-yard field goal attempt. If Slye hit it, it would have been a record. He was about 2 yards short.

Indianapolis won the game 25-24 and moved to 6-7 on the season.

Richardson was 12-for-24 with 109 passing yards, two touchdown passes and two interceptions. He also ran for 58 yards on nine carries. The second-year quarterback found Jonathan Taylor for a score early in the game. Taylor ran for 96 yards on 25 carries. The lone catch was for a touchdown.

NFL LEGEND RANDY MOSS REVEALS HE'S BATTLING HEALTH ISSUE

Michael Pittman Jr. led the Colts with five catches for 42 yards.

The Patriots took the lead with 8:43 left in the game when Antonio Gibson scored on an 11-yard run. New England went up seven at that point but couldn’t keep Indy out of the end zone.

Maye had a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper in the second quarter. He was 24-of-30 with 238 passing yards and an interception. Gibson had 62 yards on the ground. Hunter Henry led New England with seven catches for 75 yards. Hooper had four catches for 42 yards.

New England fell to 3-10 as the season has slipped away.

Indianapolis is still in the race for a playoff spot.

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