NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was granted a sixth year of eligibility by a Mississippi judge Thursday, but not before testimony from one of his coaches raised eyebrows.
Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge took the stage Thursday to discuss the importance of recovery for athletes, considering one of Chambliss’ arguments was that he deserved a medical redshirt for the 2022 season due to a severe case of tonsillitis that was preventing him from sleeping properly and performing at his full capacity.
Judge, who previously gave a nearly 12-minute answer during his tumultuous time as head coach of the New York Giants, then explained how athlete fathers “have to have different priorities” if they have a newborn during the season.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Ole Miss offensive and quarterbacks head coach Joe Judge testifies during the hearing for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss in his lawsuit against the NCAA at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Pittsboro, Miss., Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“It’s always a hard conversation to have, it’s not even popular. We should educate significant others who might have been pregnant during the season or had a baby during the season, and you have to educate them about, ‘You have this baby in the middle of the season, this dad must be playing good football,'” Judge said.
“It’s a day-to-day production thing. He has to be ready to play and go play. And when I say he is, you have to let him sleep, he has to be in another separate room. You have to explain to the mother like, ‘Hey, listen, he’s not waking up for midnight feedings.’
“After the season he wears a full metal jacket. You do whatever you want with him. He can change all the diapers. But in season he has to have different priorities.'”
The reactions were strong against Judge.
“I would not recommend sending your sons to play under this type of leadership. Good coaches know that they are not only developing athletes, but future husbands, wives, fathers, moms and leaders beyond the weight room and competition,” one X user wrote.
Mississippi Rebels quarterbacks coach Joe Judge with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal game at State Farm Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
OLE MISS QUARTERBACK TRINIDAD CHAMBLISS GETS SIXTH YEAR OF NCAA ELIGIBILITY BY STATE JUDGE
“Never take advice from a coach who ran this play,” Onyx Odds wrote with a screenshot of an infamous Giants quarterback sneaking on third-and-9 from their own 4-yard line during the 2021 season (the play arguably led to Judge’s firing).
Another user said Judge’s comments were “dumb posts.”
“I’m a father myself and will always prioritize the needs of my children above anything else. On top of that, the things a woman has to deal with after giving birth are much worse than being tired in training,” the user said.
“Of course, I hope he never talks about making good men out of his players. Ever,” added NFL.com columnist Judy Battista.
Two Giants reporters, however, quickly came to the judge’s defense.
“Joe is a good person, and he speaks to the realities of managing the responsibilities of college players and their loved ones during this particularly pressurized time in their lives. To cut this to grab it is bullshit,” said Pat Leonard of The Athletic.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan echoed similar sentiments.
Mississippi Rebels quarterbacks coach Joe Judge against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal game at State Farm Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
“Ironically, Joe Judge is the most family-oriented coach I’ve seen. He’s at Ole Miss in part because his son is on the team. And outside of football, he does everything with his wife and four kids,” he said.
Perhaps the judge’s testimony was enough, since Chambliss, whose appeal was rejected by the NCAA, got the sixth year he sought. The judge in the case said the NCAA “acted in bad faith.”
