There has been constant speculation throughout the season regarding the safety of the Patriots coaching staff going into the 2025 offseason, with Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt leading the charge in who might be in the hottest seats.
Conflicting reports have suggested Robert Kraft won't implement any changes, especially since he hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick, while others have said everyone, even the head coach, is fighting for their job.
The most recent rumors stated that Kraft has already made it clear to Mayo that he will be the head coach next season. While that might still be the case, the team's poor performance in Week 15 might have changed his stance on Van Pelt, even if that means giving Drake Maye a new play-caller after just one season.
This belief was fueled by the Krafts being shown during the Patriots broadcast on Sunday, with both Jonathan and Robert seemingly referring to the play calling as "terrible."
Someone lip read this. Sure looks like Jonathan Kraft is frustrated by what’s happening down on the field. Shaking his head. Also, it appears he’s scrolling down some notes? pic.twitter.com/V0a9ZTsMNt
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) December 15, 2024
They weren't wrong with that assessment, and it's the first time either one of them has said anything that harsh, which could mean big changes are on the way.
The Krafts' reaction to the Patriots latest offensive effort could mean personnel changes are inevitable
Van Pelt's play calling has been a highly questioned and scrutinized aspect of the Patriots' 2024 season, as the receivers have had a historically poor year, and Maye appears to be held back far too often during games.
That was very apparent against the Cardinals this week, with the offensive line continuing to be a problem, the receivers making mistakes that inevitably lead to turnovers, and Maye's impressive skillset not being utilized through three-quarters of game time.
It was clear the Krafts weren't pleased with how they day went, either, and because of that, it's fair to assume Van Pelt is fighting for his job over the next three games. While wanting to maintain consistency for Maye, who appears to be the face of the franchise moving forward, it is understandable that it's essential to have the right person in the role, and Van Pelt does not look like that guy lately.
It's not an ideal scenario, but Robert has made it clear how important it is to see the Patriots become a competitive team again. To avoid another Mac Jones situation, it seems like the Patriots need to add a better play-caller who is a better fit for their quarterback, mainly since the future of the offense almost certainly depends on it.
There should be some good candidates next year, too, like Brian Daboll, who has a history with the Patriots organization and led the groundwork of Josh Allen to become the MVP favorite he has become this year. Since Maye is often compared to the Bills quarterback, it would make sense to reunite with the former New England coach.
Regardless, if the Krafts are this displeased with how the offense looked this week, it likely isn't the first time they felt that way on game day; it's just that the cameras caught their moment of frustration this time around.
It's probably a good thing the fans saw this. Now they know for a fact that the owners are acknowledging how they're feeling, and it should lead to big changes next year.