Report: Bret Bielema To Leave Patriots, Joining Joe Judge’s Giants Staff

A coaching position within the New England Patriots has just opened. Reportedly, Bret Bielema, who served as the Patriots’ defensive line coach this season, is leaving New England. Bret will have an unspecified role on Joe Judge’s New York Giants coaching staff.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the hiring.

The #Giants are hiring former #Patriots DL coach Bret Bielema for a spot on their staff, source said. They are still finalizing details and his eventual role. As Joe Judge builds his staff, he’s adding more experience.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2020

Bret Bielema worked two seasons with the Patriots as a consultant to head coach Bill Belichick at Wisconsin and Arkansas.

His decision leaves Patriots with three vacant positions, as Judge pulled double duty as New England’s wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator this past season before leaving to become head coach of the Giants.

Five Assistant Coaches Were Replaced Last Offseason

The Patriots needed to replace five assistant coaches last offseason. Linebackers coach/de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores and cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer left the team. Receivers coach Chad O’Shea, D-line coach Brendan Daly and assistant quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski also landed jobs elsewhere.

And let’s not forget about Tom Brady. The 42-year-old quarterback is set to become a true free agent for the first time this March. He and the Patriots negotiated a long-term extension this past summer but ultimately agreed on a one-year raise for 2019. That lets Brady hit the open market, avoiding the possibility of being hit with the franchise tag.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he thought it was more likely than not that Brady is leaves the Patriots for the 2020 season.

“He’s either staying in New England, he’s retiring, or he’s going to play somewhere else,” Schefter said. “I would think of those three that staying in New England, to me, would seem like the least likely option of the three.”