Before hiring Alex Van Pelt, multiple reports had Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach Nick Caley as the frontrunner to be the New England Patriots’ next offensive coordinator.
What changed for Caley in the job hunt, and why did the Patriots ultimately decide to go with Van Pelt?
The Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard touched on a prevalent rumor that indicated Caley might have asked for too much money for the position in New England.
Per NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire, Bedard wrote:
… Everyone else had options, including Nick Caley, who appeared to be the leading candidate for a while. Did he ask for too much money, even more than Bill O’Brien earned, to leave Sean McVay’s staff and LA, where his family was enjoying life? That was the prevalent rumor at the Senior Bowl.
Caley has history with the Patriots dating back to 2015, when he began his career as an offensive assistant. He last served as the tight ends coach for the organization in 2022.
This is a classic case of what could have been for New England. There’s also the possibility the team might actually be better off for choosing the veteran option in Van Pelt in an effort to get the offense back on track.
