New England Patriots assistant coach Joe Judge is switching roles for the 2023 season.

After serving as an offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach in 2022, Judge will work in an assistant head coaching role with personnel responsibilities, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported Thursday. Judge will also “work closely with Cam Achord and Joe Houston on special teams.”

Bill O'Brien has been named the Patriots' new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Judge began his NFL coaching career as a special teams assistant with the Patriots in 2012. He became special teams coordinator in 2015 and added wide receivers coach duties in 2019 before leaving to become the New York Giants’ head coach in 2020. He served in that capacity for two years before returning to New England as a top offensive coach last season.

Here’s how the Patriots’ special teams ranked in Football Outsiders’ DVOA while Judge was in charge:

2015: fifth
2016: eighth
2017: third
2018: 16th
2019: 11th

The Patriots were first under Achord in 2020, 18th in 2021 and 32nd in 2022.

New England already boosted their special teams unit by re-signing Matthew Slater, Cody Davis, Mack Wilson, Raekwon McMillan and Jabrill Peppers. The team also signed linebacker/special-teams ace Chris Board and released punter Jake Bailey. The Patriots will likely be looking for a new punter in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Breer described Judge’s job as having “some parallels to Matt Patricia's '21 role.” He clarified that, “One difference b/w Patricia in '21 and Judge in '23, just to illustrate it—Patricia's name was on player contracts back then, and this year, Matt Groh's name is in that spot. Judge's job will be more in coaching special teams, being a liaison between coaching and scouting, etc.”

One difference b/w Patricia in '21 and Judge in '23, just to illustrate it—Patricia's name was on player contracts back then, and this year, Matt Groh's name is in that spot. Judge's job will be more in coaching special teams, being a liaison between coaching and scouting, etc.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 23, 2023

We’ll have to wait for the Patriots to update their coaching staff to see Judge’s actual title and if it includes assistant head coaching duties. There were rumors earlier in the offseason that linebackers coach/co-de-facto defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo would also take on assistant head coaching duties this season.

Featured image via Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports