Could the Bengals lose another QB coach to a promotion with the Browns?
While the Cincinnati Bengals aren't planning on making any coaching changes, their in-state rival has done the opposite.The Cleveland Browns fired three offensive assistant coaches earlier this week including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, whom spent four years with the club under those titles. Van Pelt may be out the door now, but […]
While the Cincinnati Bengals aren't planning on making any coaching changes, their in-state rival has done the opposite.
The Cleveland Browns fired three offensive assistant coaches earlier this week including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, whom spent four years with the club under those titles.
Van Pelt may be out the door now, but it was how he first got there that the Bengals remember well.
Bengals, Browns, and QB coaches
Following a successful run as the QB coach for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, Van Pelt took the same job with the Bengals in 2018. He then stayed on Zac Taylor's staff in 2019 as one of the holdovers from Marvin Lewis' tenure.
Van Pelt was highly thought of within the Bengals' organization, but they couldn't stop his next move.
The Browns offered Van Pelt a promotion in the 2020 offseason, right before the Bengals were about to start over at the QB position with Joe Burrow, and Van Pelt took it. NFL clubs are prohibited from blocking assistants who plan on accepting promotions from other clubs. Going from a QB coach to an OC and QB coach qualifies.
Cincinnati was fortunate that a clear replacement was already in the building. Dan Pitcher, who had worked as a receivers coach and then assisted Van Pelt with the quarterbacks, was promoted to QB coach in 2020 and has held the position ever since.
Now that the Browns are looking for a new OC to work under head coach Kevin Stefanski, history could repeat itself. Here's what A to Z Sports Browns beat writer Brandon Little wrote about the possibility:
"Pitcher has been working in some capacity with Joe Burrow since the Bengals drafted him. After being the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019, Pitcher has been the quarterbacks coach since 2020. Before Alex Van Pelt came to Cleveland, he was the quarterbacks coach in Cincinnati. Maybe they look at that route again." — A to Z Sports' Brandon Little
Pitcher received interest from at least two clubs last offseason to become an offensive coordinator. The Bengals responded by giving him a raise to stay on staff, with an implied promotion to OC once Brian Callahan moves on.
Interest in Pitcher persists this offseason as evidenced by the New Orleans Saints requesting to interview him earlier this week. That raise may not be enough to keep Pitcher in Cincinnati if another offers him a larger paycheck for a promotion.
Another factor to keep in mind regards Callahan. The Bengals' current OC has already interviewed with a few teams for a head coaching gig, but it's not a given he will be hired during this cycle. If Callahan sticks around, Pitcher may feel urged to find his own opportunity elsewhere instead of waiting another year for the job to open with the Bengals.
Van Pelt's only been gone for two days, but the Browns will be looking to replace him as soon as possible along with their other vacancies. Considering the title Van Pelt once held, his job is the one to watch for other teams looking to hold on to their assistants.
The Bengals watched the Browns poach one of their best assistants just four years ago. If it happened before. It can happen again.
Bengals’ crafty contingency plan now hangs by a thread
It will all come down to timing.
