Despite a disastrous debut as the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach last year, Joe Judge will return to Bill Belichick’s staff next season.

On Thursday, his new position was finally revealed.

According to Sports Illustrated, Judge will serve in an assistant head coachrole and work with the special teams units alongside special teams coaches Cam Achord and Joe Houston. Judge will also be a “liaison” between the coaching staff and scouting department, something Matt Patricia did as Belichick’s Senior Football Advisor during the 2021 season. Judge excelled as the Patriots’ special teams coordinator from 2015-2019. Last year, the Pats’ special teams ranked dead last by DVOA with three kick return touchdowns allowed.

The 41-year-old assistant was one of the few coaches to represent the Patriots at the NFL combine last month. Judge has worked closely with Belichick, whose recommendation helped him land the Giants head-coaching job in 2020. Judge lasted two years in New York before returning to New England as a full-time offensive assistant for the first time in his career last season.

Patricia hasn’t returned to the Patriots’ staff in a new capacity, and it is unknown whether he will be a part of the organization moving forward after he was replaced by new offensive coaches Bill O’Brien and Adrian Klemm.