Patriots Rumors: Mac Jones 'Didn't Like' Joe Judge, Trust Was 'Nonexistent'

Joe Judge is still technically employed as an offensive assistant for the New England Patriots, but his status is up in the air after the hiring of Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator.

One person who might be happy about that change? Quarterback Mac Jones.

Andrew Callahan and Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald reported a story on the dysfunction within the Patriots offense this season, highlighted by a feud between Jones and Judge.

"Mac didn't like him," a source said. "At all."

According to the report, Jones and Judge often traded "profanity-laced outbursts" and the second-year quarterback's "trust in his position coach was effectively nonexistent."

After a solid rookie season, Jones floundered during the 2022 campaign. He threw for just 2,997 yards and 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, ranking among the NFL's worst starting quarterbacks in nearly every category. Pro Football Focus gave Jones a grade of 67.5 for this season after he posted a 78.9 a year ago, and ESPN's QBR dropped Jones from a 56.9 to a 36.1.

Patriots fans even spent much of the season calling for Jones to be replaced by rookie fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe, who appeared in four games in October when Jones was both out and limited by an ankle injury.

The frustration with the offense boiled over for Jones in a December loss to the Buffalo Bills, when he was shown on camera appearing to say, "Throw the f--king ball! The quick game sucks!" as the Patriots consistently called checkdown plays.

Jones told reporters at the time:

"Obviously, just kind of let my emotions get to me, but we're kind of playing from behind. What I said was about throwing it deeper in the short game. I got to execute that part better. But it's the short game we kept going to, which is working. But I felt like we needed chunk plays. I shouted that out to kind of get everyone going."

The Boston Herald noted Jones wasn't the only one frustrated with the offense. Patriots coach Bill Belichick would reportedly "blast" Judge during practice.

Judge was a Patriots assistant from 2012 to 2019 before being a surprise head coaching hire by the New York Giants. He lasted two seasons in New York, going 10-23 while having personality conflicts behind the scenes.