Patriots Rumors: Insider Says Coaching Staff's Dynamic is 'Completely F--ked'

During the franchise's worst season since 2000, turmoil within the New England Patriots' coaching ranks reportedly took a toll on the team in 2023.

According to Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, a team source said, "The staff dynamic is completely f--ked."

Per Callahan and Kyed, head coach Bill Belichick wanted to keep Matt Patricia on as the offensive play-caller despite a disastrous 2022 season in that regard, but amid pressure from owner Robert Kraft, he agreed to make a change and hired former Patriots offensive coordinator and Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien as the new OC.

O'Brien reportedly wanted the authority to make sweeping changes to the offensive staff, but Belichick allowed him only one move, and brought in tight ends coach Will Lawing.

According to Callahan and Kyed, there was a feeling within the organization that O'Brien had created a coaching "hierarchy" on the offensive side by favoring Lawing and assistant quarterbacks coach Evan Rothstein.

At 4-12 entering their final game of the season, the Pats will miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, marking the first time that has happened since a stretch from 1999 to 2002.

Even if New England beats the New York Jets on Sunday, it will have a worse record than it did in Belichick's first season as head coach in 2000 when the team went 5-11.

The last time the Patriots had 12 or more losses in a season was way back in 1992 when they went 2-14.

New England experienced unprecedented success under Belichick, winning six Super Bowls and 17 AFC East titles, but success has largely eluded the Pats since the legendary quarterback signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2019 season.

Offense has been the Patriots' biggest issue since then, as neither Cam Newton nor Mac Jones could establish themselves as the heir to Brady's dominance.

Jones led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff appearance in 2021, but they were throttled by the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round, and fell to 8-9 and missed the playoffs last season.

With Patricia calling the plays, Jones threw 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and New England ranked 17th in the NFL in scoring with 21.4 points per game.

Given O'Brien's quality track record as a play-caller for the Patriots and Texans, as well as in the college ranks at Alabama, there was optimism that he would be able to get Jones and the offense back on track.

Instead, things have bottomed out, as the Patriots are dead last in the NFL this season with 14.6 points per game.

Also, Jones has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10), and he lost his starting job to Bailey Zappe.

It seems unlikely that Jones will be back with the Patriots in 2024 unless it is in a backup capacity, and he may not be the only key figure to leave the organization.

Multiple reports have suggested that Belichick and the Patriots are likely to part ways at the end of the season, which once seemed unfathomable given everything he has accomplished as head coach.

If Belichick leaves, then the rest of the coaching staff is likely to be cleared out as well, meaning the Patriots will start from scratch on the offensive side of the ball.