Very Sad: Coach Jerod Mayo has decided to leave Patriots over failed negotiations

Coach Jerod Mayo ”amicably” stepped down as coach of the New England Patriots, ending a that produced an unprecedented six Super Bowl victories, he and the club said on Thursday.

The 71-year-old, who teamed up with quarterback Tom Brady to build one of pro football’s longest runs of titles, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft made the announcement during a press conference at Gillette Stadium.

Kraft said he and Belichick met on Wednesday and they “mutually agreed to part ways amicably.”

“I’m very proud that our partnership lated 24 years,” Kraft said standing next to his now-former head coach. “It represents the end of an era, one that hopefully will always be celebrated in this region. The man standing to my left brought the leadership and coaching skills that were needed to make this type of unprecedented success that we have had possible. “

Both men agreed it was time to make a change, Kraft said

“He’s the greatest coach of all time which makes this decision to part ways so hard,” Kraft said. “But this is a move that we mutually agreed that is needed at this time.”

Belichick ticked off a long list of Patriots staff, on and off the field, and thanked them all for their contributions to the team’s success.

“It was a great team effort and everybody put everything they had into it and that’s why we’re successful,” he said.

“Of course a great deal of thanks and appreciation to the players. Players win games in the NFL and I’ve been very, very fortunate coach some of the greatest players.”

Belichick nonchalantly quipped that he might not have been the best boss and co-worker at times.

“They (support staff) made my life a lot easier or I made their lives a lot harder, however you want to look at it,” he said.

Both men left that press conference, making the announcement, without taking questions. But two hours later, Kraft returned to the podium and offered more insight to the move.

Belichick operated as de facto general manager, in addition to coach, thus controlling nearly every football-related move.

The pair had talked about removing some responsibilities from Belichick, according to Kraft, but the owner said he ultimately concluded that move would’ve led to harmful second guessing.

“It’s going to set up confusion and, ‘well it was his (draft) pick and that was a bad pick’ or ‘he didn’t play him right,’ ” Kraft told reporters at the second meeting. “It wouldn’t work in my opinion.”

At that second briefing, a reporter asked Kraft if Belichick had opposed leaving — and did the coach “fight for his job?”

Kraft paused and didn’t directly answer.

“It’s something that, it was best we each moved on and I think that’s what the last three or four days of taking the time to figure it out allowed us to do,” Kraft said.

The famously non-demonstrative Belichick appeared to show some emotions when he thanked Patriots fans for their support during this long run.

“Fans here are amazing,” Belichick said. “So many memories of the fans, the send-offs, the parades, the Sundays, whatever the situations are, the letters of support, seeing the fans away from here at a gas station or a grocery store wherever you bump into them.”

Belichick and Kraft more than hinted that they expect the longtime Pats leader to be back on another sideline soon.

“It’ll be difficult to see him in a cutoff hoodie on the sideline (of another team) but I will always continue to wish him continued success except when he’s playing our beloved Patriots,” Kraft said of Belichick and the coach’s famed, unusual fashion choices.

Belichick said he’s “excited for the future.”

“I’ll always be a Patriot,” he said. “I look forward to coming back here. But at this time, we’re going to move on and I look forward and am excited for the future.”