Most of the major coaching moves around the league have already taken place, but a notable development in New England will see one of the Patriots' top assistants remain with the team. Joe Judge will occupy an assistant head-coaching role with the Patriots in 2023, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Judge will work in part with the team’s personnel department, Breer notes. That setup will make his new role somewhat similar to that of fellow veteran staffer Matt Patricia in 2021, when the latter transitioned from the sidelines to the front office. Judge will still have on-field responsibilities as well, though, working alongside Cam Achord and Joe Houston to coach the Patriots’ special teams units.
Judge, 41, made a name for himself as a coach in the third phase during his first stint in New England. He worked his way up to the unit’s coordinator in 2015, working in that capacity until taking the Giants’ head-coaching job in 2020. That move didn’t go as planned, and he was fired after two straight losing seasons. He returned to the Patriots this past offseason, still representing one of head coach Bill Belichick‘s most trusted lieutenants.
As was the case with Patricia, Judge spent the 2022 campaign in an unfamiliar role. The latter served as the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach, and his struggles in that capacity resulted in tension between himself and Mac Jones. Overall, New England underwhelmed on the offensive side of the ball with Patricia and Judge playing central roles, so it came as little surprise when Bill O’Brien was installed as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
That will allow Judge to have a more comfortable assignment on special teams. The Patriots ranked dead last in terms of DVOA in the third phase in 2022, so there will plenty of room for improvement for the unit heading into next season. Judge will aim to help guide them to a rebound performance, while solidifying his place as a versatile, experienced member of the organization.
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