Jerod Mayo, who has been named the new coach of the New England Patriots, went viral on Wednesday, responding to a question from a reporter on race.
Mayo said he does “see color” when he was asked to reflect on being the first black coach in Patriots history.
“I do see color,” he said during the press conference, sitting alongside team owner Robert Kraft. “I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism. And, whatever happens — black, white … even someone with disabilities — for the most part, people are like, ‘Don’t.’ When they’re young, they kinda make the spot hot.”
“But, what I would say is, no, I want you to be able to go up to those people, really understand those people,” Mayo continued. “So, that goes back to whatever it is — black, white, yellow — it really doesn’t matter, but it does matter so we can try to fix a problem that we all know we have.”
“I do see color, because I believe if you don’t see color you can’t see racism.”
Jerod Mayo on being named the first black head coach in Patriots history. pic.twitter.com/toTTJ6CrB3
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 17, 2024
The clip of Mayo blew up online, with some praising the new coach, and others criticizing the response.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III cheered Mayo, writing online, “Jerod Mayo is the 1st Black Head Coach of the [Patriots] and he doesn’t shy away from it or any issues about race in our country.”
“He isn’t scared to say it with his chest,” Griffin added. “He is STANDING ON BUSINESS.”
Jerod Mayo is the 1st Black Head Coach of the @Patriots and he doesn’t shy away from it or any issues about race in our country.
“I do see color because I believe if you don’t see color, you can’t see racism…I want you to be able to go up to those people and understand those… pic.twitter.com/sCSsMjR9Se
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 17, 2024
A diverging online reaction argued that Mayo’s comments are a new-age “pseudo-profound reaction to colorblindness.”
“Meyo sounds like a good guy, but this nonsense needs to stop,” one comment said. “When a person says they’re colourblind, they’re not saying they don’t acknowledge a person’s skin colour. They’re obviously saying they don’t treat people based on their skin colour.”
“I mean, he does know that that’s just a saying, right?” another person responded. “Everyone sees color. It means you judge people on the content of their character, not the color of their skin. The opposite of what he’s doing.”
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Others said Mayo could have handled the question better, citing Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Todd Bowles.
Bowles was asked by the press about facing off against another coach who is black, Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin. “I have a very good relationship with Tomlin,” Bowles responded. “We don’t look at what color we are when we coach against each other; we just know each other.”
“I have a lot of very good white friends that coach in this league as well, and I don’t think it’s a big deal as far as us coaching against each other, I think it’s normal,” he continued. “Wilks got an opportunity to do a good job, hopefully he does it. And we coach ball, we don’t look at color.”
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