Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has been under intense scrutiny in his first year with New England, receiving harsh criticism primarily from outside voices. However, inside the organization, he has a strong base of support.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo emphasized Van Pelt’s crucial role in Drake Maye’s development. “No one deserves more credit for Drake’s success on the field than Alex Van Pelt,” Mayo said on Wednesday, noting that the team prioritized qualities like calmness, collaboration, and steadiness when selecting assistant coaches—traits Van Pelt exemplifies. “I value that about him,” Mayo added.
Despite the criticism directed at Van Pelt amid the Patriots’ challenges, Maye’s performance has shown a clear improvement that many attribute to Van Pelt’s influence.
Maye, for his part, praised Van Pelt’s approach: “You want to play for someone like AVP. He’s encouraging but also coaches with intensity. He’s been a quarterback in this league himself.”
Earlier in the season, Van Pelt’s job security was in doubt, but the endorsements from those around him suggest he could remain with the Patriots for the foreseeable future.
