After a much-maligned season coaching offense, Patriots assistant coach Joe Judge will have a new role under Bill Belichick in 2023.

And it sounds like it’ll be in the same role he should have always held.

• According to Albert Breer, Judge will now be in an ‘assistant head coach’ type of role on the Patriots coaching staff, that will include “personnel elements” and “some parallels” to the role Matt Patricia played as a senior advisor to Belichick in 2021. Mike Reiss had previously said at ESPN.com on Sunday that some around the team believed Judge would be a senior advisor to Belichick.

  Most importantly, Breer reported that Judge will “work closely with Cam Achord and Joe Houston on special teams.” Achord is currently the Patriots’ special teams coordinator, a role previously occupied by Judge before he left New England to be the New York Giants’ head coach.

• 

  CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 16: Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots talks with quarterbacks coach Joe Judge against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

• Wherever Judge ends up working on in 2023, he will ostensibly be nowhere near the offense. In 2022, Judge was the team’s de facto quarterbacks coach, and it’s well-documented how poorly that went. Mac Jones struggled to the tune of just 14 touchdown passes to go with 11 interceptions and an 84.8 passer rating, and his on-field freakouts became a regular occurrence.

  Judge was vastly more successful as the Patriots’ special teams coordinator than in any other role he’s held in the NFL. It’s strange that he would have more roles beyond that, or have a hand in personnel decisions. This feels like he basically got a promotion.

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• Perhaps Judge’s return to a deep involvement in special teams will restore those units to the level of prominence they enjoyed from his time as coordinator from 2015-19. The Patriots also signed linebacker Chris Board, who is known as one of the better special teamers in the league, as a free agent.

  But if the Patriots’ personnel moves take a step back in 2023, people will know who to blame.

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  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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