Former Patriots coach Jerod Mayo joins Fifth Down Capital

Former New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has joined the Boston-area investment firm Fifth Down Capital as a managing director, marking a significant career shift away from professional football. The move, confirmed by the firm's website and Mayo's professional profile, follows his dismissal from the Patriots in January 2025 after one season as head coach.

Mayo, 40, is no stranger to the business world. Prior to his coaching tenure, he served as Vice President of Business Development for the healthcare services company Optum from 2016 through 2019. In a biography on Fifth Down Capital's site, the firm noted Mayo has been an active investor and advisor to private companies for over a decade, highlighting his disciplined leadership style, emphasis on preparation, and relationship-building skills. The private equity firm, based in Needham, Massachusetts, focuses on investments in technology, healthcare, and consumer-retail sectors.

His transition concludes a brief and challenging chapter as head coach of the Patriots. Hired in 2024 to succeed the legendary Bill Belichick, Mayo led the team to a 4-13 record that season, which featured two separate six-game losing streaks....