Caleb Harris
When the New England Patriots said things would be different under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, they meant it. As the Patriots’ linebackers coach, Mayo learned from former coach Bill Belichick. And although they may have some similarities, the way Mayo runs the team is far from reflecting what his predecessor did.
Mayo is splitting team duties with its coaches and has given the most important task to its offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt: developing who they hope will be the franchise quarterback.
The Patriots drafted North Carolina’s Drake Maye third overall, and how he develops will likely make or break the team’s success in the future. He has yet to earn the starting QB job to begin the season and will be competing with veteran Jacoby Brissett for that spot.
Acclimatize Maye and prepare her for the NFL will fall primarily on Van Pelt’s shoulders, Mayo said.
“You know, across the league, most offensive coordinators interact with the quarterback, the starting quarterback for the most part,” Mayo said at rookie minicamp (via NBC Sports).
He added that although he has many qualified coaches to work with Maye, he doesn’t want to overwhelm the rookie with too many people giving him advice. This is an approach Mayo is taking based on his own experience as a player and coach in the league.
“We have a group of coaches with a background in defenders, but I would say overall it would be [Van Pelt] as far as the protagonist is concerned,” Mayo added. “There has to be a balance there, you don’t want Drake to hear too many voices. Again, this is why I’m saying this [Van Pelt] will be the lead in communicating with Drake.”
Van Pelt’s responsibilities will extend to the entire quarterback room, which includes Brissett, who is in his second stint with the team; Bailey Zappe, last year’s reserve-turned-starter; and 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton III.
“You hear all these voices, but you have to have a small circle that you really talk to and trust,” Mayo said. “I think [Van Pelt] is in that circle. I know [Van Pelt] He’s in that circle with Drake and the rest of the quarterbacks.”
Mayo admitted that Maye has a long way to go before he is ready, but he has faith that he can get there because of the talents he possesses and the leadership skills the newcomer will acquire.
“He’s got a lot to work on. A lot to work on,” Mayo said, via ESPN. “But I have no doubt he’ll put in the time. He’s been here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else.”
Van Pelt was the Browns’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2023 after only serving as Cleveland’s OC from 2020 to 2022. He also served as the quarterbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills. With a defensive-minded coach, it’s not a huge surprise that he would assign his rookie QB to work with someone with a lot of experience on the other side of the ball.
