Whether Bill Belichick leaves after this season or sometime in the years to come, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is widely viewed as the favorite to succeed him as the Patriots’ head coach.

Mayo has already interviewed for three head-coaching jobs in the last three years and turned down an interview last offseason with Carolina. In January, owner Robert Kraft released an unprecedented statement announcing the Patriots had engaged in contract negotiations to retain him. Mayo later reached terms on a new deal that opened new doors for him inside the building, including an inside look at Belichick’s search for a new offensive coordinator.

The 37-year-old has long been heralded as a natural leader and players coach. It is not certain Mayo will be named the Patriots’ next head coach, though he is determined to become a headman somewhere someday. Players and colleagues see Mayo as a strong head-coaching candidate — and he’s not the only one on staff.

Two members of the Patriots’ coaching staff were recently named to the NFL Network’s annual list of rising assistants who project as future head coaches or coordinators: defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington and wide receivers coach Ross Douglas. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is another candidate to lead a team again, having successfully served as a head coach at the NFL and college level.

After conducting several interviews with their players and colleagues, here’s why Covington, Douglas and O’Brien are believed to be head-coaching material.

DL coach DeMarcus Covington

Last winter, the Senior Bowl underwent a coaching makeover.

After importing complete coaching staffs to lead two teams of college prospects every season for more than 70 years, the Senior Bowl began assembling an all-star cast of coaches. At the end of the NFL regular season, non-playoff teams nominated assistants from their staffs to serve as a head coach, offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator at the Senior Bowl. Once the league office collected all the nominations, a Senior Bowl committee, led by executive director Jim Nagy, began whittling the lists down to the top candidates.

New England Patriots assistant coach DeMarcus Covington watches the team warm up before a Dec. 29, 2019 game against Miami. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Bill Belichick nominated Covington, so Nagy, an ex-Patriots scout, placed some calls to his old headquarters to learn more.

“He came really highly recommended,” Nagy said. “I talked to guys in New England, talked to guys in the front office, and he had a really good reputation.”

Covington was awarded one defensive coordinator position, and its accompanying to-do list: gather a staff of assistants, construct a playbook and streamline all the language involved with those plays, their associated drills and techniques so the coaches could communicate with each other and the prospects. Once the Senior Bowl opened in early February, dozens of general managers and coaches watched Covington work during three practices and the exhibition. Suddenly, this all-star showcase for prospects became as much of a test test for its coaches as its players.

Covington aced his test.

New England Patriots assistant coaches DeMarcus Covington, left, and Jerod Mayo look on during a Dec. 15, 2019 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. (Staff Photo/Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

“He did a great job from a command and authoritative standpoint, and having juice and everything you would look for in a leadership role. He had that stuff,” Nagy said. “And I thought he did a really good job. There was no there was no hiccups during the week. .. And watching him out at practice, he did a great job. And that’s not easy.”

Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is close to finishing his third season with Covington. Godchaux said it took little time to realize he was playing for one of the best coaches he’s ever had.

“He’s a leader, a natural born leader. I can definitely see him being a (defensive coordinator) or a head coach one day,” Godchaux said. “He’s smart and tough. You’ve got to be able to tell some guys no when they want them to tell you yes. And he does that.”

Covington separated himself foremost, Godchaux explained, through his teaching. He’s a master in the classroom and on the field, a skill set rarer than most fans might think.

“Most coaches in the league, they expect you to know (techniques) coming out of college. But if somebody doesn’t know it, you have to teach them. And he’s able to teach everything,” Godchaux said. “Most (coaches) can talk about it, but they can’t do it. And my first year here, he was doing that. That amazed me and just tells you how smart he is.

“A great teacher, in my opinion, makes a coach. And that’s him.”

Pats outside linebacker Jahlani Tavai agreed, noting Covington’s professionalism while adding he’s picked up a few tricks from the 34-year-old.

“He knows how to adapt to certain players,” Tavai said. “He knows that we’re professionals, and grown men, so he’ll treat us like men. And when the decision comes, he’ll make the right one about who should be out there on the field.”

What about Covington becoming a head coach one day?

“That would be awesome for him,” Tavai said.

Defensive lineman and captain Deatrich Wise agreed.

“Definitely,” Wise said. “He has a great understanding of the entire defense and scheme. He can coach defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs. He sees the big picture, he’s a good players coach and can control the room.”

WR coach Ross Douglas

Last year, Belichick made small waves across the league when he anointed Douglas the NFL’s youngest position coach at age 27.

The season before, Douglas showed players why he would eventually be deserving of such a promotion.

New England Patriots assistant coach Ross Douglas is shown prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 17, 2021 in Foxboro. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)

After joining the Patriots’ staff via the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program in June 2021, Douglas earned veterans’ respect by pouring himself into all aspects of his job as a defensive quality control coach, including film breakdowns, scouting reports and coordinating the scout team. Douglas also began meeting players individually for workouts as early as 5:30 a.m.

“I loved working with Ross,” said Pats defensive back Myles Bryant “He was always eager to get better and that kind of trickled down to the players out here. Guys like J.C. (Jackson), (Jalen) Mills, myself, always finding ways to get with him and get some work and whether it’s before practice after practice.

“I think it speaks a lot to his character, what he’s all about,” Bryant added. “I loved my opportunity working with Ross.”

In the 2022 offseason, Belichick flipped Douglas from defense to offense. Douglas spent most of that spring scouting wide receiver prospects and even ran drills at college Pro Days attended by roughly 30 NFL teams. Last season, Douglas teamed with fellow receivers coach Troy Brown to help Jakobi Meyers post career numbers and DeVante Parker become one of the NFL’s better big-play threats with a 17.4 yards-per-catch average, third-highest in the league.

Meet Ross Douglas, the new Patriots offensive coach no one is talking about

Even as the Patriots’ receivers slog through an injury-riddled 2-8 season, they say Douglas has been a resource; someone they can connect with and learn from on a regular basis.

“Overall, he understands both sides of the ball and has a lot of good relationships,” Pats receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “I definitely see a future for him.”

“He knows offense and defense and brings a great love of the game,” added Patriots rookie receiver Demario Douglas. “Coach (Belichick) does a great job of making sure his coaches know both sides. He builds ’em to be a head coach.”

Demario Douglas was one of the prospects to play under his young position coach at the East-West Shrine Bowl, an all-star showcase in Las Vegas the Patriots worked last January. Ross Douglas served as the offensive coordinator for the West Team, while Brown performed as the head coach. Shrine Bowl director Eric Galko said prospects described Douglas as energetic, collaborative and demanding, but fair.

“When the Patriots took the opportunity to coach at the Shrine Bowl, I first heard from (director of player personnel) Matt Groh, and my next text or call was from Ross,” Galko remembered. “He was ready to jump in right away, and I think he did a great job understanding the logistics that were not a part of his job. His attitude and hunger extended far past the plays, playbooks and players and into how to be a leader of coaches.”

Douglas’ last two bosses at the college level similarly glowed about him.

“The thing that impressed me was him always thirsting to learn how to do this or do that. He asked a lot of questions,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said last year. “You could see he was trying to formulate his own style, and I think he picked up some really good things.”

Richmond head coach Russ Huesman, who lost Douglas to the Patriots in 2021, later called him “an up-and-coming star;” something Douglas has proven in short order amid a couple difficult seasons in New England.

“One day, he will be an NFL offensive coordinator. I have no doubt,” Galko said. “And I think it’s just a matter of when that time comes because he has all the traits and skill sets to be a really successful offensive coordinator in the NFL.”

OC Bill O’Brien

After Mayo, there is no more obvious head-coaching candidate on staff than O’Brien. The 54-year-old reportedly wants to lead his own team again, after serving as the head coach of the Texans from 2014-20 and before that at Penn State for two seasons. Although, O’Brien declined to address his future this week on a conference call with reporters.

New England Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe talk with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien during the second quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. (Staff Photo/Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

“I have to do a much better job in the job that I have right now,” O’Brien said. “You know, I’ve been doing this for 31 years. I’ve served (in) every single role on a coaching staff, in an organization that you can pretty much serve. And so I think right now for me, I’ve got to do a better job of what’s going on here right now, to try to have a more productive offense. So, that’s what it is. It’s not a cliche, that’s the truth.”

O’Brien, according to a source, is under contract past the 2024 season. It’s unclear what O’Brien’s future would look like if Belichick and the team part ways, though Belichick recently endorsed his work amid a difficult season.

“Bill works hard. He puts in a lot of time, very detailed. He studies what we do, studies what our opponents do, puts together a good plan, outlines it, goes over it in detail with the players,” Belichick said Friday. “So, yeah, he’s had a lot of experience, so that’s good.”

In the summer, offensive players universally raved about O’Brien’s impact and leadership skills.

“I love his attitude,” said Patriots left tackle Trent Brown who was enjoying a career year before injuries hit. “I think he speaks a language that will get everybody fired up and excited to play ball. … He just brings excitement and energy to the whole building, honestly. I love him.”

Quote of the Week

“Hope so. I mean, that’s the plan.” — Patriots quarterback Mac Jones on whether he’ll start Sunday against the Giants.