NFL Columnist Rips Former Giants Head Coach Joe Judge
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Former New York Giants head coach and Ole Miss assistant Joe Judge is making headlines for the wrong reason this week.
While at Trinidad Chambliss' injunction hearing on Thursday, the Ole Miss quarterbacks coach sent a pretty alarming message to anyone dating his players. He essentially told pregnant partners that the father has to prioritize football over everything else during the season.
"It's not going to be a popular opinion, but this is the truth. We would have to educate significant others who may have been pregnant during the season or are gonna have a baby during the season, and you’d have to educate them on — you have this baby in the middle of the season, that father has to play good football," Judge said, via On3.
"It’s a day-by-day production business. He has to be ready to perform and go out there and play. And when I say that, [what I mean] is you need to let him sleep. He needs to be in another room, detached. You have to explain to the mother, like, ‘Hey, listen, he ain’t waking up for midnight feedings. After the season, he’s full metal jacket. You can do whatever you want with him. He can change every diaper, but, in season, he’s gotta have a different priority."
These comments from Judge didn't sit well with a beloved NFL columnist – and understandably so.
"Sure hope he never talks about developing his players into good men. Ever," NFL.com columnist Judy Battista wrote on social media.
Make no mistake, Battista wasn't the only person disturbed by Judge's remarks.
NEW: Ole Miss coach Joe Judge tells pregnant partners of players during the season that the father has to play good football.
“He needs to be in another room, detached… he ain’t waking up for midnight feedings.” pic.twitter.com/LQG7t0fQtX
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) February 12, 2026
Football world questions Joe Judge's character.
"If a firefighter or a nurse can manage to be a parent, so can a football player," Brett Kollmann of the Bootleg Football Podcast said.
"What a deeply depressing — and misguided — sentiment," Mike Wilson of Volquest commented.
"No clue how we got here but I cannot believe this is something he felt compelled to say, out loud, on the record," CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones replied.
"Same dudes who always preach that they’re coaching these guys in life outside football too," another person added.
We're not sure how Judge will minimize the backlash online. His comments were said with such conviction that it's hard to believe his stance on this matter will change.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Feb 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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