RB Gibson immediately saw personal side of new HC Mayo

It’s a new era for the Patriots.

We’ll find out in due time if that’s a positive, but running back Antonio Gibson, who signed with the Patriots in free agency raved about his first meeting with new head coach Jerod Mayo.

Sitting down with them, we had good conversation,” Gibson said Monday on a video conference call with the media. “Definitely a different vibe from a head coach. Just from the one day I met him. Nothing against Coach (Ron) Rivera, but he sat down and just having like, just different conversation. He didn’t even sound like a coach. He sounded like he was talking to one of the guys.

“I feel like that’s something that might be a positive thing in a locker room for him to be able to relate and communicate like that and kind of understanding both sides of it.”

Mayo, 38, is only nine years removed from his playing days as a linebacker with the Patriots. He spent three years away from football before returning to the Patriots as a linebackers coach in 2019. The Patriots put a succession plan into his contract that allowed them to avoid a typical head-coaching search. The Patriots him as Bill Belichick’s replacement shortly after Belichick and the team parted ways.

Belichick, like Rivera, Gibson’s head coach with the Commanders, likely would have felt more like talking to a coach than a fellow player.

How Mayo treated Gibson’s daughter also resonated with the veteran running back.

“Also he showed my daughter a hell of a time,” Gibson said. “Brought her into the office and just treated her with love. I appreciate that, for sure, especially the first time meeting him.”

Gibson, 25, signed a three-year, $11.25 million contract with the Patriots that included $6 million guaranteed and a $3 million signing bonus.

Gibson is an experienced pass catcher and should complement starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson well.

Gibson said he also connected with Stevenson after he signed because of their JUCO roots. Stevenson went to Cerritos College before he played for Oklahoma. Gibson went to East Central Community College before he played at Memphis.

The former Commanders running back has 642 career carries for 2,643 yards with 22 touchdowns in four seasons. He’s also added 172 catches for 1,283 yards and seven touchdowns and 35 kick returns for 826 yards.

He said he was excited for the fresh start in New England after things went south for him with the Commanders over the last two seasons. He had 506 touches over his first two seasons and 308 touches over his final two years.