According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, former NFL QB and most recently the Browns OC Alex Van Pelt will be the new offensive coordinator for the Patriots.
Van Pelt played for the Buffalo Bills from 1995-2003, appearing in 31 games and starting 11. He threw for just under 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. After his playing career, Van Pelt began coaching in 2005 as a ‘volunteer offensive quality control assistant.’ Over the next four years, he moved up the ranks in the Bills organization, serving as QB coach in 2008 and then OC/QB coach in 2009.
In 2010 & 2011 Van Pelt was the Tampa Bay Bucs’ QB coach before moving on to Green Bay. In 2012 and 2013 he was the Packers; running backs coach before taking over QB coaching duties with Aaron Rodgers in 2014. In 2015 he was Green Bay’s wide receiver and QB coach before just working with the quarterbacks again in 2016 and 2017.
Van Pelt moved on to Cincinnati in 2018, taking the QB coach role there for two years before being elevated to offensive coordinator for the last five seasons. Most recently, Van Pelt helped guide an offense with Joe Flacco at the helm to the postseason.
This is a hire that Patriots fans should be pleased with, even if he wasn’t on anyone’s radar.
Jerod Mayo reportedly interviewed 11 different guys for the role and Van Pelt was never mentioned once. Was this by design? Was it a late addition to his list of candidates? Either way, it’s another ‘outside the family’ hire, which fans and media members alike have been clamoring for. You wanted new ideas, terminology and scheme, we’ve got new ideas, terminology and scheme.
Perhaps above all else, whether the Patriots stick with Mac Jones, trade for Justin Fields, sign a free agent or draft a new face of the franchise at No. 3, Van Pelt has plenty of experience with some pretty elite quarterbacks in this league and most importantly, he’s called plays before. Having a former player running the offense that can relate to guys is important too, as we’ve all learned over the last few seasons that communication between QB’s and OC’s is absolutely critical. If that relationship isn’t there you’ve got no shot at success.
This should also signify a change in offensive philosophy as Van Pelt is more of a West Coast offense guy, but in today’s game there will probably be hints of various things he’s picked up throughout his career. Don’t forget how much of a weapon the Browns’ ground game has been the last couple years with Nick Chubb as well.
Whatever it looks like, the offense certainly should look different than anything we’ve seen here in a long time.