Joe Judge returns to Patriots as quarterbacks coach

Unsurprisingly, Joe Judge is returning to the New England Patriots after losing the New York Giants head coach position. What is surprising, however, is the role Bill Belichick has assigned him.

Judge will likely work with Mac Jones and the rest of the Patriots’ quarterbacks, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. This marks a shift from his first tenure with the team, when he worked as special teams coordinator and later with wide receivers.

The Patriots do not have a dedicated quarterbacks coach on staff right now, so the responsibilities will apparently fall largely to Judge. He has never served as a quarterbacks coach before, and Daniel Jones didn’t really progress under him with the Giants. Belichick is certainly trusting his young quarterback to an inexperienced coach here.

On the other hand, Belichick has always trusted his favorites, and it usually works out for him. That is why he didn’t flinch when bringing back another unsuccessful head coach who had previously worked for him.