Ole Miss Coach Advises Players' Partners to Let Them Be 'Detached Fathers' During Season

Joe Judge's controversial remarks about players' responsibilities as fathers spark backlash on social media.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge advised the romantic partners of his players to allow them to be 'detached' fathers throughout the football season, stating that the players need to prioritize their performance on the field and cannot be burdened with parental duties during the season.

Why it matters

Judge's comments have drawn significant criticism on social media, with many questioning the ethics and appropriateness of a coach making such demands of players' personal lives and family responsibilities.

The details

During testimony in court on behalf of a player challenging an NCAA decision, Judge said he advises young mothers of his players' children to let their partners 'detach' from fatherhood during the season. He stated that players need to be 'ready to perform' and cannot be burdened with tasks like waking up for midnight feedings, and that the mothers will have to 'explain' this to the players' partners.

  • On February 12, 2026, Joe Judge made the controversial remarks while testifying in court.

The players

Joe Judge

The head football coach for the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) who made the controversial remarks about players needing to be 'detached fathers' during the season.

Trinidad Chambliss

A 23-year-old quarterback at Ole Miss who challenged the NCAA's decision to deny him a waiver to play another year as a collegiate athlete, which prompted Judge's testimony.

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What they’re saying

“This is always a tough conversation to have. It's not a popular thing, but this is the truth. We would have to educate significant others who may have been pregnant during the season, or were gonna have a baby during the season, that you would have to educate them on, you have this baby in the middle of the season, [but] that father has to play good football.”

— Joe Judge, Head Football Coach, University of Mississippi (Breitbart)

The takeaway

Judge's remarks have sparked widespread backlash, raising concerns about the ethics of a coach making such demands of players' personal lives and family responsibilities. The comments highlight ongoing debates about the balance between athletic performance and personal obligations for college athletes.