Rams hire Aaron Rodgers’ former coach as QB rumors swirl

Former Packers QB coach and Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt joins Rams staff under Sean McVay

Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams finalized their coaching staff this week. One of the more compelling hires from the list was senior offensive assistant Alex Van Pelt.

Van Pelt was the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator last season under one-and-done head coach Jerod Mayo. He was not retained as part of Mike Vrabel’s staff who instead elected to bring back Josh McDaniels. Before joining the Patriots, Van Pelt was held the same title with the Cleveland Browns on Kevin Stefanksi’s staff for four years.

While on the surface picking up a fired offensive coordinator from a 4-13 team might not look noteworthy, Van Pelt brings a half decade of coordinator experience to LA. With coaches like Nick Caley leaving as part of the Rams’ annual offensive brain drain, this is a welcome addition. Van Pelt comes from a Shanahan-McVay adjacent scheme given his roots with Stefanksi; however, the Browns system is just different enough that he can probably bring new ideas to the table in LA.

A year under McVay could put Van Pelt back in the coordinator cycle for 2026.

Amidst QB trade rumors, this hire raises eyebrows

If the Rams do decide to trade Matthew Stafford, one of the favorites to replace him in Los Angeles is future hall of famer Aaron Rodgers.

Van Pelt has a connection to Rodgers as his quarterback coach with the Green Bay Packers between 2014-2017. Rodgers won his second of four MVP awards in 2014, notably.

Now, how much does hiring a quarterback coach from nearly a full decade ago move the needle if you are trying to attract Rodgers? Probably not much. Still, with every passing day there are more and more rumors of teams interested in Stafford as he and the Rams continue this years-long contract dispute. Things can change quickly, and Los Angeles will be the most attractive destination for Rodgers to finish out his career on a high note.

While we are at it, let’s connect another dot

If you personally put much weight behind the Rodgers-Van Pelt connection, then it’s also noteworthy that the New York Giants added Matthew Stafford’s brother-in-law and brother to Kelly Stafford, Chad Hall, to their coaching staff this offseason. Hall is now the G-men’s assistant quarterbacks coach.

It’s a nothingburger until it isn’t.

Brian Daboll is one of the coaches around the NFL with the most to gain from a potential trade for Stafford. He’s coaching for his job in 2025. Hiring a relatively low level assistant in order to land the biggest fish available this offseason is a small price to pay. The Giants may be building their case for Stafford in the same way that Tom Brady is attempting to sell his vision for the Las Vegas Raiders to the veteran QB.