7 things to know about offensive boss
The Patriots’ offensive coordinator search ended Thursday with a curveball.
New head coach Jerod Mayo hired ex-browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who became the 12th reported candidate to interview Wednesday. Van Pelt, according to sources, remained in Foxboro through Thursday, when his interview concluded with an offer. The 53-yearold has no prior experience with the Patriots, and is expected to change the team’s current offense.
Here are seven things to know about the end of the Pats’ offensive coordinator search:
1. Van Pelt was the most experienced candidate interviewed
Nineteen seasons as an NFL assistant.
Twenty-eight years in the league overall, including his days as a backup quarterback in Buffalo (1995-2003).
No other coach Mayo interviewed came close to Van Pelt’s experience in the league. Thanks to his background, Van Pelt also checks several major boxes — experience as a coordinator and quarterbacks coach — for a team that will be starting over offensively in 2024.
Here’s the skinny on his NFL coaching resume: Browns offensive coordinator (2020-23), Bengals quarterbacks quarterbacks coach (2018-19), Packers quarterbacks coach (201617), Packers quarterbacks coach/wide receivers coach (2015), Packers quarterbacks coach (2014), Packers
running backs coach (201213), Buccaneers quarterbacks coach (2010-11), Bills offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2009), Bills quarterbacks coach (2008), Bills quality control coach (2006- 07).
2. He was the last candidate interviewed
If timing is everything, Van Pelt’s hire says a lot.
For starters, he was the 12th coach to reportedly meet with Mayo. The Patriots also interviewed Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley and ex-bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy twice before meeting with Van Pelt once.
Most of the Patriots’ initial interviews were hourlong video conferences, according to a source, so it’s hard to believe scheduling conflicts kept the two sides
from meeting. Van Pelt was fired in Cleveland on Jan. 17, and Mayo opened his first offensive coordinator interview on Jan. 22. Van Pelt also has one solid connection in New England: director of scouting Eliot Wolf, who had a hand in the coordinator searches and overlapped with Van Pelt briefly in Cleveland and for six years in Green Bay.
That said, Van Pelt managed to secure the job in roughly 24 hours. The impression he made on the Patriots must have been strong, on top of the obvious experience that figures to benefit them as they likely move forward with a new, young quarterback.
3. Van Pelt did not call plays in Cleveland except …
… when Browns head
coach Kevin Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 during the 2020 season.
Van Pelt called offensive plays for two games that year, including a playoff win at Pittsburgh. Otherwise, Stefanski ran the show on offense. He set the game plan and orchestrated its execution on game days, not his offensive coordinator.
4. Expect a blended, West Coast-based scheme
For most of his career, Van Pelt has coached a descendant of the West Coast offense. But he’s not a Kyle Shanahan or Sean Mcvay disciple, like most of the Patriots’ other candidates.
Van Pelt most recently coached under Stefanski, who took the Cleveland job after working under ex-vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, a former Mike Shanahan assistant. Unlike most Shanahan offenses, the Browns leaned heavily into man-blocked runs — which often feature pulling linemen — not zone runs the last few seasons.
Before that, Van Pelt coached under Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who coaches a Mcvay- style offense replete with zoneblocked runs, jet motion and three-receiver personnel groupings. Yet Van Pelt’s longest stint came in Green Bay under ex-packers head coach Mike Mccarthy, a West Coast traditionalist. In Green Bay, the Packers used little motion and abided by traditional West Coast passing concepts that have spanned decades.
All together, Van Pelt will have a wealth of old playbooks and schemes to pick from as he builds a new system for the Patriots.
5. He’s a quarterback’s quarterbacks coach
Over a surprise 2023 playoff campaign, Van Pelt coached five different Browns quarterbacks: Deshaun Watson, P. J. Walker, rookie Dorian Thompson-robinson, Jeff Driskel and Joe Flacco.
Despite that turnover, Van Pelt had all five prepared and shaped an offense that averaged 22.8 points per game, good for 12th in the league. The Browns also overcame the loss of star running back Nick Chubb, who missed virtually the entire season. Van Pelt is well- respected for his ability to connect with players and colleagues, especially in hard times.
Said a league source who has experience working with Van Pelt: “Great dude. Culture changer. Good coach.”
Van Pelt has also drawn praise from Aaron Rodgers, and previously worked with Baker Mayfield, Andy Dalton, Josh Freeman and Ryan Fitzpatrick, among others.
6. His job was not coveted
According to The Athletic, several of the top offensive coordinator candidates on the market did not view the Patriots’ job as appealing.
A number of the coaches who sat for the initial interviews — Zac Robinson, Shane Waldron, Dan Pitcher and Jerrod Johnson — dropped out to take other jobs and/or remain with their current teams. Sources close to a couple candidates said these coaches described their Patriots interviews as “fine” and “solid,” while noting the team’s personnel was a significant drawback, especially compared to other jobs.
Van Pelt reportedly also interviewed with the Raiders and Buccaneers for their offensive coordinator positions.
7. Van Pelt has a lot of work ahead
The Patriots do not have a starting quarterback. Their roster features arguably the worst pass- catching talent in the league. They have zero tight ends under contract. Both of their starting tackles are set to hit free agency.
Ready, set, rebuild.