List Of New England Patriots Head Coaches

So picture this: it’s a crisp autumn afternoon in 1990, and I’m a kid glued to the TV, watching the New England Patriots get absolutely pancaked by the Buffalo Bills. My dad sighs, mutters something about “another lost season,” and changes the channel. I didn’t know it then, but that sad little moment was a perfect snapshot of what it meant to be a Pats fan before the dynasty—a franchise with a revolving door of head coaches and a whole lot of losing. It makes you wonder: how did we go from that to the greatest run in NFL history? Well, grab a coffee, because we’re about to walk through the list of New England Patriots head coaches, and trust me—it’s a wild ride from “who?” to “the GOAT.”

The Early Days: Chuck Fairbanks and the Pre-Belichick Wilderness

The Patriots didn’t exactly start with a bang. The very first head coach was Lou Saban in 1960, and he lasted just one season—one!—before bailing. Yeah, the dude named his son after a football team (the Buffalo Bills), so maybe his heart wasn’t in Boston to begin with.

Then came Mike Holovak, who actually kept the job for five seasons and brought some respectability. But the real standout of the early years was Chuck Fairbanks (1973–1978). He was a sharp offensive mind who took the Pats to the playoffs twice—a huge deal in a decade where they were mostly just wallpaper.

Fairbanks left under a cloud, though, trying to jump to the NFL’s rival league mid-season. Classic Pats luck, right? It’s like the universe was saying, “Nope, you can’t have nice things.”

The Ron Meyer & Raymond Berry Era: A Glimmer of Hope

Fast forward to the 1980s, and we get Ron Meyer, who coached from 1982 to 1984. He had a fiery personality and famously clashed with the front office. His most memorable move? Trading a first-round pick for a running back who barely played. Oof.

That mess cleared the way for Raymond Berry, the Hall of Fame receiver turned coach. Berry took over in 1984 and, against all odds, led the Pats to Super Bowl XX in 1985. Yes, they got annihilated by the Chicago Bears (46–10, ouch), but for a fan base used to losing, just getting there felt like winning the lottery.

Berry’s calm, steady hand was a gift, but after a few mediocre seasons, he was gone. And then the darkness returned—the 1990s, baby.

The Bill Parcells Merger: A Brief Taste of Swagger

Enter Bill Parcells in 1993. You know, the Big Tuna? He walked into Foxboro with his signature scowl and a mission to turn a joke of a franchise into a contender. And by golly, he did it—taking the Pats to Super Bowl XXXI in 1996. They lost to the Packers, but Parcells brought credibility and, more importantly, a winning attitude.

But here’s the kicker—Parcells had a massive ego (in the best way) and clashed with owner Robert Kraft. The feud got so ugly that Parcells famously quit after that Super Bowl, then tried to coach the Jets. The drama was juicy, but it paved the way for something bigger. I remember thinking, “Who’s next? A guy named Belichick? Never heard of him.”

Pete Carroll: The Pre-Belichick Misstep

Before we get to the legend, let’s talk Pete Carroll (1997–1999). Yeah, that Pete Carroll—the guy who later became Mr. Seahawks. Back then, he was a young, energetic coach who went 27-21 and made the playoffs twice. Not bad, right? Well, Kraft disagreed, feeling the team plateaued. So he fired Carroll after three seasons.

Looking back, it’s hilarious. Carroll went on to win a Super Bowl with Seattle and become a college icon at USC. Meanwhile, Kraft’s next hire? Some defensive coordinator from the Jets named Bill Belichick. And, oh, you know what happened next.

The Belichick Dynasty: And Then There Was One

Bill Belichick took over in 2000, and, well, you have lived through it. He won six Super Bowls, created the “Patriot Way,” and turned a franchise that once couldn’t catch a break into the gold standard of the NFL. We’re talking 17 division titles, nine AFC championships, and a ridiculous 30-year run of dominance.

Belichick’s genius wasn’t just X’s and O’s—it was his ability to build a culture. He demanded “Do Your Job,” cut stars without mercy, and made everyone from Tom Brady to undrafted free agents feel equally replaceable. It worked because it was ruthless, and we loved it.

But even dynasties have an end. After Brady left in 2020, the wins dried up. The 2023 season was a 4-13 disaster, and by January 2024, Belichick and Kraft mutually parted ways. The GOAT coach left, and suddenly, the Pats were back in the wilderness.

Jerod Mayo & The New Chapter

Enter Jerod Mayo, a former Pats linebacker who took over in 2024. He’s young, charismatic, and the first Black head coach in franchise history. That’s a big deal, and the hope is he can bring a fresh energy while respecting the Belichick-era foundation.

His first season? Let’s just say it’s been rough—4 wins again. But hey, Rome wasn’t built in a day (or after Belichick’s shadow). Mayo’s still learning, and honestly, that’s okay. Remember, the list of coaches before him includes names like Hugh McElhenny and John Mazur, which nobody remembers except for trivia nights.

So, what’s the takeaway from this list? It’s that the Patriots are a story of persistence. From Fairbanks to Parcells to Belichick—and maybe someday Mayo—every coach added a brick to the wall. The dynasty was a freakish anomaly, but the journey to get there? That’s the real heart of the franchise. And honestly, I can’t wait to see who gets the next chance to scribble their name in this weird, wonderful history.