FOXBOROUGH, Mass. >> The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick.

Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season with a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.

“After the game I informed Jerod Mayo that he will not be returning as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2025. For me, personally, it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made,” Kraft said. “Unfortunately, the trajectory of our team’s performances throughout the season did not ascent as I had hoped.”

A former Patriots linebacker who worked as an assistant under Belichick, Mayo started the season with a strong endorsement from Kraft. But alongside a coaching staff that featured offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and first-time defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, he struggled to get the most out of a young roster that included rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

Browns fire coaches >> The Cleveland Browns have fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson following their 3-14 season, a person familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press.

Dorsey and Dickerson were informed of the moves in the aftermath of the team’s 35-10 loss in Baltimore on Saturday, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made an announcement.

Dorsey and Dickerson were in Cleveland for just one season.

Cleveland’s offense struggled under Dorsey, who was fired last season by the Buffalo Bills.

Women’s basketball

Notre Dame tops North Carolina >> Hannah Hidalgo scored 18 of her 24 points before halftime while the Fighting Irish knocked down 13 3-pointers to beat the Tar Heels 76-66.

Hidalgo joined with her fellow past Associated Press All-American backcourtmate Olivia Miles in helping the Fighting Irish (12-2, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) win their seventh straight game. Hidalgo and Miles each made five 3s, with Miles hitting multiple either off the dribble or on stepbacks against nearby defenders on the way to 19 points.

Beuckers injured in win >> Paige Bueckers scored 15 points before leaving the game with an injury to help No. 7 UConn rout Villanova 83-52.

Bueckers added nine assists for the Huskies (13-2, 4-0 Big East) before getting hurt with 1:17 left in the third quarter after a collision near midcourt. Bueckers was going for a loose ball when Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe dove and went into the All-Americans’ left knee, bending it back awkwardly.

Bueckers sat on the court for a minute before limping off.

College football

QB wins Payton award >> Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award as the Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year, two days before the top-ranked Bobcats face North Dakota State in the title game.

Called Touchdown Tommy, the speedy Mellott edged North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller and Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson in voting announced at the FCS Awards Banquet.

Baseball

Nationals sign Bell to 1 year contract >> First baseman Josh Bell and the Washington Nationals finalized a $6 million, one-year contract on Sunday.

Bell returned to Washington after spending the 2021 season and bulk of 2022 there, hitting .278 with 41 homers, 145 RBIs and 48 doubles in 247 games. He was traded to San Diego with Juan Soto on Aug. 2, 2022, the first of three straight years he was moved ahead of the trade deadline.