Terrell Williams is back in the thick of things for the Patriots, and Mike Vrabel says his new job is about more than just a title change.
During New England’s five-day practice block last Friday, the Patriots wrapped it up with a scrimmage that split both the roster and the coaching staff. Tony Dews led the Blue Team. Williams was in charge of the White Team, a visible reminder that he’s again operating in a prominent role after a season that was interrupted and reshaped by health issues.
Vrabel explained before the scrimmage that Williams has become a key presence with the defense’s front seven.
“He’s really taken control of that front seven,” the Patriots’ second-year head coach explained. “It’s something that’s critical to our defense, the way that we want to play, the style that we want to play and making sure when we pressure, when we run games, when we’re in different fronts.
“That’s kind of really being able to bring Clint [McMillan]’s guys and [Mike Smith]’s guys together so that everybody’s seeing it the same way and that we’re coordinating how we want to rush and the way that we want to rush. So, that’s one way, still continuing to support Zak [Kuhr] and the defensive staff.”
Williams arrived in New England last year as defensive coordinator, but his first season in that role was derailed. After already missing time in the offseason because of what he later described as a “health scare,” he was diagnosed with prostate cancer after the Patriots’ regular season opener against the Raiders. With Williams out, inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr handled play-calling duties.
Kuhr’s work, with Williams still helping behind the scenes, ended up being part of a defense that carried the Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl. That sequence made Kuhr’s promotion to full-time defensive coordinator a natural move, and Williams’ shift to assistant head coach followed the same logic, especially given his background with the defensive line.
That background runs deep. Before arriving in New England in 2025, Williams had spent his entire 27-year coaching career, from college through the NFL, working with the D-line.
That included time with the Titans, where he coached the position group during Vrabel’s six seasons as head coach. In 2023, their final year together in Tennessee, Williams also served as assistant head coach.
Vrabel also pointed to Williams’ ability to connect with players across the roster.
“I’ve always said he’s got a really special quality of being able to reach a lot of different players, whether that’s on defense or offense,” Vrabel said about Williams. “He’s already made bonds with guys like Caleb Lomu and Eli [Raridon].
He’s seen a lot of football in this league and been around a lot of different players. I see him spend a lot of time with guys.
I always like that - when guys that have experience on one side of the ball and they have the capability of doing it, of reaching players on the other side of the ball that maybe his position goes against, and they can tell him the things that they’re doing well or any things to be able to encourage them.”
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