Patch Patriots Roundup: Belichick On The Outside Looking In

Update: This story has been updated to reflect the Patriots hiring of Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator.

FOXBOROUGH, MA — When Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media in Foxborough to announce they'd be going in separate directions, Kraft said he was very much not looking forward to seeing Belichick's hoodie on opposing sidelines.

Kraft, at least for one year, can wipe the sweat from his brow and sleep soundly. On Thursday, the Washington Commanders hired Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their head coach. That comes one day after the Seattle Seahawks hired their head coach, leaving Belichick — and former Patriot Mike Vrabel — without a head coaching position for the upcoming season.

Belichick twice spoke with the Atlanta Falcons about their head coaching opening, but the team recently announced the hire of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

According to reporting from league insiders, it appears that Belichick's mishandling of the quarterback position, his wish to retain full control over decision making in any organization he coaches for and, yes, even his gruff coaching style, were enough to keep most teams away from his during the search.

But that doesn't mean Belichick will never coach again, and at least one prominent decision maker in the NFL said he would be open to working with him in the future.

Jerry Jones Looming

Jori Epstein of Yahoo! Sports reported from this week's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dispelled any notion that he wouldn't work with Bill Belichick.

"I know him personally and I like him," Jones said. "There’s no doubt in my mind we could work together."

The two would be an odd couple for two major reasons, the first being the idea that Belichick would be ok with yielding control to Jones and his team of front office executives. The second is just as obvious, being that Jones and Belichick are about as opposite in the public arena as you could get.

Jones notoriously gives interviews after Cowboys games, sharing thought after thought with reporters. Belichick also gives interviews ... they aren't the same.

Still, bringing Belichick to Dallas would certainly grab attention and headlines for the country's most popular team, though it will have to wait. Head coach Mike McCarthy is under contract for another year.

Zac Robinson Heads To Atlanta, Not Foxborough

Zac Robinson was drafted by the New England Patriots. Zac Robinson interviewed for the Patriots offensive coordinator position. Zac Robinson will not be taking that job.

Robinson will join Raheem Morris in Atlanta after coaching alongside the new head coach in Los Angeles. The decision — and promotion — comes during a day that was full of new chapters and beauty for Robinson.

According to reports, Robinson's wife gave birth to their second child just 20 minutes before he received word that he would be getting the job in Atlanta.

Coordinator Developments

With Robinson out of the running, the Patriots have turned to former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Earlier in the week, it looked like Rams tight end coach Nick Caley appeared to have the title of frontrunner, but Van Pelt was eventually the decision after the team also interviewed 49ers passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak and Las Vegas Raiders passing game coordinator Scott Turner.

Despite helping the Browns to the playoffs with Joe Flacco at the helm, Van Pelt was fired after the team's playoff loss to the Houston Texans. He comes to the Patriots, where he will call plays, from a situation where he worked with offensive-minded head coach Kevin Stefanski.

And What About GM?

It appears that the Patriots will keep things in-house for the general manager role at least through the 2024 draft.

Reports indicate that director of player personnel Matt Groh and director of scouting Eliot Wolf will continue in those roles through the draft, but both are in consideration for a promotion to general manager after the draft.

Though an external hire is still possible, it does appear that Wolf or Grof are expected to be the choice for GM, with Wolf the leader in the clubhouse. His father, Ron Wolf, was a highly successful GM for the Packers. He traded for quarterback Brett Favre, signed pass rusher Reggie White and hired head coach Mike Holmgren, bringing him a bulk of the credit for reigniting the Packers franchise.

Could his son do the same with the Patriots?