The Patriots have seen another of their prominent Bill Belichick-era staffers head to the college ranks. Following the exits of Bill O’Brien and Steve Belichick, Joe Judge is also jumping down a level. Ole Miss hired Judge, the school announced.
Judge joined the Lane Kiffin-led program this week. The Patriots had offered Steve Belichick an opportunity to stay, with Brian Belichick still on Jerod Mayo‘s staff. And they had given O’Brien a chance to stay on as well. Although some Bill Belichick-years staffers are still on Mayo’s staff, Judge will leave after his second stint lasted two years. O’Brien is now Boston College’s HC, while Steve Belichick is Washington’s DC.
Judge, 42, has a background with both Belichick and Nick Saban. That past will help land him a job under Kiffin, who was Alabama’s OC from 2014-16. The ex-Raiders HC has been Ole Miss’ head coach since 2020. Judge moved straight from Saban’s staff to Belichick’s; he has been at the NFL level since 2012.
The Rebels are adding Judge, who played in college at rival Mississippi State, as an analyst. Recent NFL HCs or OCs stepping back to the college level took place on Saban’s staff recently, with O’Brien, Brian Daboll and Steve Sarkesian working as Crimson Tide play-callers over the past 10 years. Judge will accept a lesser role at the SEC program.
Working primarily as the Pats’ special teams coordinator during his first stint, Judge flamed out as Giants HC. Late in the 2021 season, Giants ownership had been planning to retain Judge for a third year — after it had fired Ben McAdoo during his second season and Pat Shurmur after Year 2. But a brutal stretch following a Daniel Jones neck injury sank Judge, who went 10-23 as Giants HC; that included a tenure-closing six-game skid.
Bill Belichick rehired Judge and gave him a key role on offense, placing the longtime ST coach in charge of QBs, during a 2022 season that featured Matt Patricia make a strange transition to the team’s primary offensive play-caller. Judge held key input as well, with that being a source of tension for Mac Jones. Holding three Super Bowl rings, Judge joined the expansive list of coaches to fail away from Belichick. He will now have another opportunity to bounce back.
No word on whether Ole Miss will get to do a quarterback sneak against their own goal line. [The play that got Judge fired from the Giants.]
Here Come Da JUDGE !!
Probably be better off with Mike Judge
Definitely. At least we’d laugh.
Brian Daboll can join him next year.