Exclusive | Jerod Mayos Patriots firing was unfair after he inherited stty roster: Vince Wilfork

Many would’ve thought former Patriots great Vince Wilfork was in a predicament when the team fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and replaced him with Mike Vrabel this week. Wilfork, who has a close relationship with both coaches, won two Super Bowl titles with Vrabel and one with Mayo during his 11 seasons in New England.All three were Patriots teammates during the 2008 season.In an interview with The Post, Wilfork said he’s waiting to reach out to Mayo, whose situation was “heartbreaking” because it was handled unfairly by Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

“I’m giving [Mayo] time because it’s heartbreaking and I understand that,” Wilfork, 43, said Tuesday during an event with Tums and DraftKings in New York.“His roots are in Boston, his family, his friendships — it’s all there.

So I know it’s pretty tough for him right now, trying to figure out what is he going to do next.“I’ll give it some time because he’s like a brother to me.Then I’ll reach out to him and we’ll talk and break bread and see what’s next for him.

I have no idea what he wants to do now.I’m pretty sure it’s probably a slap in the face, like a punch in the face.

It’s a gut punch for him.But part of the game is being a coach and you’re gonna get fired sometimes.

Even the greats got fired.It happens but the way it happened, that’s the problem.

We’ll see.” Wilfork, 43, partnered with Tums, which he takes for heartburn, and DraftKings for its Fantasy Football Pool, where players can draft their game-day dishes for free for a chance to win a share of a $40,000 prize through Feb.9Mayo, who spent his entire eight-season NFL playing career with New England, coached the Patriots to a 4-13 record this season.The 38-year-old was hand-picked by Kraft to inherit a depleted roster after the Patriots and Bill Belichick parted ways after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles last January.“I just felt that it was unfair for Jerod Mayo to be in the predicament...