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Patriots Reveal New Coaching Titles; Joe Judge's Role?

Originally posted on FanNation Patriot Maven
By Harrison Reno | Last updated 7/20/23

With less than a week until the beginning of training camp, the New England Patriots have finally revealed their coaching staff for the upcoming season.

After months of still showing the staff from last season, the Patriots finally updated the site to show off the new coaches who joined this offseason. Among those hires include the return of Bill O'Brien as the Patriots' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. O'Brien inherits an offensive unit that struggled under the director of co-play-callers Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, neither of whom had any prior offensive coordinating experience.

O'Brien's return to Foxboro also comes at a time when the future of third-year signal-caller Mac Jones is in the air. There have been numerous reports of a grudge being held against Jones by Patriots coach Bill Belichick relating to issues from last season. These reports of Belichick being unhappy with Jones were only exacerbated by the rumors of the Patriots even taking stock of the quarterback's trade value this offseason.

O'Brien not only took over the duties as the Patriots' play-caller, but he will also oversee the quarterbacks, a role formerly held by Judge. Unlike Patricia, Judge is still in Foxboro and listed as a staff member for the Patriots, except he is no longer listed on the offensive side of the ball. Instead, he is now listed under defense as the assistant head coach.

While Judge is not in charge of any specific position group, his new role might mean that if anything were to happen to Belichick, he'd assume the role of acting head coach. That's interesting, because many observers feel that the Patriots retaining of co-defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo - and giving him a new contract - makes him the favorite to someday replace Belichick.