Photo credit Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

According to sources, former Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will not be returning to the team. Van Pelt was not terminated after Jerod Mayo was let go earlier this month. There was speculation Van Pelt could return but with the team hiring Josh McDaniels on Tuesday, the Patriots decided to go in another direction.

Van Pelt did a good job developing rookie quarterbacks Drake Maye and Joe Milton, despite the team’s overall struggles offensively. The Patriots got better as the season went on but in reality, they were not much better statistically than they were in 2023. The offense scored 53 more points this season, averaging 17.1 points per game. 

The Patriots finished 31st in yards per game at 291.9, 32nd in passing yards with 176.2 per game and a respectable 13th in rushing at 115.8 yards per game. Van Pelt brought the west coast offense with him from Cleveland but the scheme wasn’t a great fit given the Patriots limitations at the skill positions.  

Van Pelt was hired by Vice of President of Football Operations Eliot Wolf. The partnership of Mayo and Van Pelt seemed forced from the beginning. Mayo kept referring to him as the head coach of the offense, but you never got the sense he was committed to Van Pelt or what the Patriots were doing offensively.

Many thought Van Pelt may stick around as quarterbacks coach to further develop Maye but in the end, Mike Vrabel decided to move. It was the right move for AVP and the team.