Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo led an extensive search for an offensive coordinator with 11 known candidates, but a stealthy 12th interviewee got the job in New England.
For Mayo, a first-time head coach whose expertise is on the defensive side of the ball, naming an offensive coordinator was a significant hire. But when the team made their coordinators on Mayo’s staff official late last week, it was surprising to see Alex Van Pelt tabbed as the director of the offense.
After parting ways with the Browns following a four-year stint in Cleveland, Van Pelt’s interview with the Patriots began last Wednesday and continued into Thursday, when the Pats top brass made a deal official with the longtime offensive coach. Van Pelt landed the job while the team had other finalists, former Patriots assistant Nick Caley and former Bears OC Luke Getsy, in the building last week for a final round of interviews.
As a well-respected players coach known for being a positive culture, the case for Van Pelt is his extensive background working with quarterbacks and 18 seasons coaching in the NFL. After a nine-year playing career as a quarterback, Van Pelt has coached quarterbacks for five different organizations, including Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay and Baker Mayfield with the Browns.
When the Packers moved on from Van Pelt following the 2017 season, it was a move Rodgers didn’t support. The future Hall of Famer credited the Pats new OC for the trust they had established, giving AVP props for drilling techniques such as play-action fakes and footwork.
Similarly, folks in Cleveland were surprised he was let go by the Browns after winning games with four different quarterbacks, including four-straight victories with Joe Flacco coming off his couch to lead the Browns to the playoffs in 2023. According to reports, head coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t make the decision. Instead, upper management made the call because they felt the offense wasn’t suited for…
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