New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai has launched a blistering attack on the team’s fanbase as their awful season creaks towards a miserable ending this weekend.
The Patriots lost 40-7 at home to Los Angeles Chargers in their last game and if they lose again this weekend to the Buffalo Bills, they’ll have the No. 1 pick for the NFL Draft later this year.
Tavai appeared on The Gregg Hill Show on Friday morning, defending under-fire head coach Jerod Mayo and instead blaming the fans for criticizing the players.
‘I definitely told a fan to quiet down in a non-polite way,’ Tavai said about the Chargers game.
‘There’s a reason why they’re fans. Everybody can say what they think that we should be doing. In the long end, they are not qualified to be doing what Mayo is doing.
‘They’re fans. I appreciate them at times but sometimes they have just got to know their place. Rome wasn’t built in a day.’
Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai on the fans:
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Per: @TheGregHillShow
“I was frustrated, I definitely told a fan to quiet down in a non polite way…there’s a reason why they’re fans…they’re not qualified to do what Mayo is doing…they’re fans, appreciate them at times… pic.twitter.com/iA5ub2SELE
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 3, 2025
Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai says fans in New England ‘need to know their place’
His comments come after supporters were furious at the 40-7 loss to the Chargers last week
The Patriots are 3-13 ahead of Sunday’s game against the Bills – one of the favorites to go all the way and win the Super Bowl in New Orleans next month.
And fans were unhappy enough before Thursday’s announcement from Mayo that quarterback Drake Maye was going to start the game against the Bills, knowing that the first pick is on the line.
‘I’ve never been a part of a team, as a player or as a coach, going into a game not wanting to win,’ Mayo said. ‘It’s not going to change today, so that’s my message to the team.’
Mayo’s job is under scrutiny given how things have gone in his first season since Bill Belichick left, meaning a win against the Bills – who aren’t expected to let quarterback Josh Allen play too long on Sunday – seemingly more important.
The 28-year-old Tavai, who was drafted by the Detroit Lions before later signing for the Patriots in 2021, used his old team as an example for where the Patriots want to be.
‘The Lions, four years ago when Dan Campbell took over, what was their record?’ he said. ‘Then these past two years, I’m not trying to compare, but that’s a goal we’re trying to develop here, in this new regime.
‘That’s the mission – to get to how the Lions are improving. That’s the type of team we see ourselves as – a playoff contender. Unfortunately, that’s not this year.’
