After Bill Belichick, who makes the calls on the Patriots staff?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the NFL:

1. Wolf well placed: One of the most important steps for the Patriots after the departure of coach Bill Belichick will be in their personnel department, clarifying roles and finally deciding who will run the show after Belichick has had the last word for the past two decades. With the No. 3 overall pick, this is arguably the team’s most important draft since selecting quarterback Drew Bledsoe first in 1993.

Some key takeaways from team and league sources:

• In 30 years of ownership, Robert Craft and Jonathan Craft have never hired a general manager. Bobby Grier and Scott Pioli hold the title of Vice President of Player Affairs, while Nick Caserio and Matt Groh assume the title of Director of Player Human Resources. As that history suggests, it is unlikely that any hire will be a GM empowered to manage the entire football operation. Instead, the Crufts are looking for someone to oversee the staff and work in tandem with new head coach Jerrod Mayo.

• Scouting director Elliott Wolff is being eyed by some in the organization as the pick for Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolff for more responsibility and possibly leading personnel efforts. Prior to joining New England, he was the assistant general manager for the Browns (2018-19). The last four years have been, in some respects, an extended job interview for him. Crofts familiarity with him could be used to his advantage.

• Interviews with external candidates are still in play. But with the current staff at least remaining in the draft — Wolf, Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh, Senior Personnel Advisor Pat Stewart, Director of Pro Scouting Steve Cargill and College Scouting Coordinator Camren Williams — the Krafts seem to have an attitude that there’s no need to rush.

2. A missed opportunity? As confident as Kraft is about Mayo — and that his hiring of former head coaches Belichick and Pete Carroll requires respect — some executives and coaches around the NFL are surprised he hasn’t interviewed other candidates. Gather information that may benefit the organization in the future. What was the rush? That image of the Krafts is one of many questions being asked, when Mayo is officially announced on Wednesday, about their decision-making process (going back to last season when they drafted a succession plan in Mayo’s contract) and how some team sources believe the domino effect of the decision has led to an even more divided coaching staff.

3. Mayo Philosophy:- Mayo held bi-weekly press interviews throughout the season to gain insight into his coaching philosophy and focused on “conceptual learning”. After being named the team’s 15th head coach on Friday, his perception is ripe for revision.

• “We always talk about teaching how Not to think what Thinking. ‘It’s your defense, have ownership, have accountability, here are the keys.’

• “The schedule is one thing, but I believe it’s really about the players. Our X’s and O’s are basically healthy, but it’s about getting good players.”

• “I like to tell the players once they get on the field it’s a blank canvas. So go fill it up, but just make sure you put it on the canvas.”

• “I love coaching but I don’t do it to pay the bills. I do it for the love of the game and the love of the players.”

4. May Levels IV:- Another aspect of Mayo’s hiring is unique — since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, he becomes the fourth head coach to have a former head coach play with the same team. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the others are the Vikings’ Mike Tice in 2002 (under Dennis Green), Washington’s Jack Pardee in 1978 (under George Allen) and Green Bay’s Bart Starr in 1975 (under Dan Devine).

5. Goodbye, Days. Mayo prefers to sit down with the people she talks to rather than talk to them from behind a desk, so daily media briefings (and perhaps team meetings) will have a different feel. Mayo’s official induction Wednesday as the 15th head coach in franchise history may provide the first glimpse of that.

6. And they said thus. “He knows how to bring the youngsters and get them to adapt and get up to speed with the older guys, so you can all see the same vision. That’s one of the things he likes to say: ‘I don’t care.’ — Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon, of Mayo, during an appearance on ESPN’s NFL Live on Friday.

7. Call of Duty: Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel was among those in the team’s auditorium Thursday when Kraft and Belichick announced their split. Others seated in the back: defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, director of football/head coaching administration Burge Najarian, director of scouting administration Nancy Meyer, video archivist Jimmy Dee and team sportscaster Ted Harper. Belichick, who said he didn’t want to leave anyone out, said he specifically highlighted Najarian and Meyer as having been with him “since Day 1.”

8. International plans? In the year After “setting up” a game in Frankfurt, Germany, for the 2023 season, the Patriots may punch their passports again in 2024 — this time as a “road” team. The NFA announced Thursday that the Bears (London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) and the Jaguars (London’s Wembley Stadium) are among the teams to host international games — and both are New England road opponents in 2024.

9. Did you know? — part one: If Belichick were to coach a new team in 2024, he would be the first head coach in his 70s to start a season with a new team.

10. Did you know? — Part II: Mayo became the 242nd former player to become an NFL head coach since the 1970 merger. Out of this group, 134 are forwards and 108 are defensive players, Elias said. Mayo is the first former Patriots forward to serve as the team’s head coach.