Report: Patriots hiring former USC kicker, Alabama special teams analyst Joe Houston

A second member of Nick Saban’s Alabama staff is set to join Bill Belichick’s in Foxborough.

According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the New England Patriots are hiring Joe Houston as assistant special teams coordinator.

Houston served as an analyst for the Crimson Tide kicking game in 2019 after being named Iowa State’s special teams coordinator ahead of the prior season.

A former kicker at USC, Houston led the Trojans in scoring as a redshirt senior in 2010 while converting 10-of-16 field goals and 43-of-43 extra points. He played in the Arena Football League for the Chicago Rush and in the Indoor Football League for Nebraska Danger before making stops at El Camino College, Toledo and joining the Cyclones’ quality control in 2016.

Joe Judge’s departure to become head coach of the New York Giants leaves Cameron Achord in line to take over as the Patriots’ special teams coordinator. Judge, who arrived in New England in 2012, held the title of special teams assistant for Saban’s Crimson Tide from 2009 through 2011.

The Patriots added ex-Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri, who’d returned to Tuscaloosa as graduate assistant last season, to the fold in January.