Last week, Luke Getsy, the former quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, was dismissed from his role as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. Following this, Alex Van Pelt, who served as Green Bay’s quarterbacks coach from 2014 to 2017, has now been relieved of his duties as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.
Van Pelt’s termination comes as somewhat of a surprise, especially considering the Browns’ performance during the season. Despite making it to the playoffs, the mid-season acquisition of quarterback Joe Flacco, which saw a 4-1 record and a passer rating of over 90 under Van Pelt’s guidance, adds to the unexpected nature of his firing.
The Cleveland Browns seem to be undergoing significant changes within their offensive staff as they approach the 2024 offseason. According to reports from CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, Van Pelt, who also served as the team’s quarterbacks coach, joins former Cleveland running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach TC McCartney in being without employment.
The Packers’ head coach, Matt LaFleur, has shown a tendency to bring in coaches with whom he has prior experience as assistants or analysts. However, Van Pelt does not fit this pattern, unlike Getsy. Van Pelt’s tenure in Green Bay was solely under Mike McCarthy, who is now the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. In contrast, Getsy worked under LaFleur and was promoted to passing game coordinator during LaFleur’s second season as head coach. Before that, Getsy served as a receivers coach under McCarthy.
These developments are noteworthy for the Packers as their current quarterbacks coach, Tom Clements, is an older coach who previously retired in 2021. Should Clements’ position become vacant, it wouldn’t be surprising if Getsy or Van Pelt were considered for a return to the franchise.
There’s also speculation that LaFleur might allow offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, who doesn’t call plays, to pursue opportunities where he can call plays. Getsy was reportedly LaFleur’s top choice for offensive coordinator when Nathaniel Hackett departed to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos two seasons ago. LaFleur permitted Getsy to interview with the Bears as it presented a play-calling role for Getsy, something he wouldn’t have had in Green Bay.
Additionally, there’s potential for a reunion with former Packers defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, who departed last season to become the assistant head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Gray’s contract with the Packers expired, and he opted not to renew. The Falcons are undergoing significant coaching changes, with their defensive assistants allowed to interview elsewhere, including defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who is under contract but is interviewing for the defensive coordinator position with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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