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Patriots Coach Who Could Be Fired After Week 18 Makes Plea to Stay

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt made it clear he wants to stay in New England.

By Joe Summers

Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) on the field against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) on the field against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images
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The Patriots are on the verge of major changes this offseason as they try to reshape the roster to avoid another disastrous campaign. One coach on the hot seat spoke to the media on Thursday and reiterated his desire to stay with the organization.

New England is in line to have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and face questions about whether they'll stick with Drake Maye or consider another signal caller, though perhaps a larger question is what coaching staff will be in place to help mold the roster.

Jerod Mayo sounds confident he'll remain in charge, but offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has no such assurances entering a Week 18 tilt with the Bills.

Alex Van Pelt Makes Case to Stay With Patriots

Van Pelt is in his first year with the Patriots after being the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator from 2020-2023. New England currently ranks 28th in yards per play (4.8) and have six straight losses, though the roster is clearly one of the NFL's worst, making it difficult to know how much blame to lay at Van Pelt's feet.

He coordinated successful offenses despite mediocre quarterback play in Cleveland, so there's a strong track record in his favor. That said, someone needs to be held accountable and coordinators are often shown the door.

"This is the business. We all signed up for this," Van Pelt said regarding his job security. "The thing I can hang my hat on, this team has played hard."

This was always expected to be a rebuilding year, though not even the Patriots' fiercest detractors thought they'd have a firm grasp on the league's worst record going into the final week. If they draft someone like Colorado's Travis Hunter or trade back to pick up extra offensive linemen, the offense could be in a much better spot whether Van Pelt stays or not.

He wants to stay and continue developing the young offense. Whether or not he gets that chance remains to be seen, and perhaps a fresh voice could help inject some life into the group. Van Pelt has a solid case to come back in 2025, yet it's clear the final decision isn't his to make.

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