Faced with the prospect of losing defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to Detroit, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to Indianapolis and linebackers coach Brian Flores to Arizona, the New England Patriots' coaching losses may go even deeper.
Patriots special-teams coach Joe Judge also is working on an expiring contract and could leave New England after this season to join one of his fellow departing assistant coaches, league sources told ESPN.
If Judge were to leave New England, it would mean that head coach Bill Belichick could be losing each of his three direct reports on his coaching staff.
Judge has coached with the Patriots since 2011, after working under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2009 to 2011.
Under Judge's talents and direction, the Patriots typically have fielded one of the league's top special-teams units.