Sources - New England Patriots talk to Joe Judge about return

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are in discussions with their former assistant Joe Judge — who was fired after two seasons as head coach of the New York Giants — to return for a role on the team's offensive staff, sources confirmed to ESPN.

While there are still details to be finalized, sources say it is likely that Judge will return to New England, where he coached from 2012-19.

In his final season under Bill Belichick, the 40-year-old Judge served as wide receivers coach, in addition to his longtime role coordinating special teams.

Judge was then hired for his first NFL head coaching job, going 10-23 in two seasons with the Giants. He had been set to become the head coach at Mississippi State, his alma mater, before the Giants offered him the job.

In Judge's final season in New England, Belichick had said that he «could probably coach any position on the field,» crediting his teaching ability and knack for thinking quickly.

The Patriots are undergoing a significant change on their offensive coaching staff. They currently don't have no offensive coordinator after Josh McDaniels was named head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree is joining McDaniels, and it's possible other assistants could follow. In addition, veteran running backs coach Ivan Fears is expected to retire.

In past years, Belichick hasn't always given out titles at the outset when filling out his coaching staff.

Judge's role, assuming there are no unexpected holdups, could be contingent on other additions to the staff.

SI.com first reported the Patriots' discussions with Judge to return to the team.