The New England Patriots are already reshaping their coaching staff, and Thursday brought a notable shift. Terrell Williams, who had been serving as the team’s defensive coordinator, is transitioning into a high-ranking role within the organization. Williams spent much of the past season away from the team after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and this move signals both a return to involvement and a restructured coaching hierarchy in Foxborough.
With Williams stepping aside from defensive play-calling duties, the spotlight turns to linebackers coach Zak Khur. Khur took over defensive play-calling responsibilities this past season and handled the role with poise.
Internally, he’s viewed as the frontrunner for the permanent defensive coordinator position - and for good reason. His work on the headset helped stabilize a Patriots defense that faced plenty of adversity in 2025.
But if the Patriots are keeping their options open - and history tells us they usually do - there’s one name that looms large: Jim Schwartz.
Schwartz, the longtime defensive mind and former head coach of the Detroit Lions, recently stepped down from his post as the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator. That decision came after he was passed over for the Browns’ head coaching job in favor of Todd Monken. Schwartz’s résumé speaks for itself: two top-10 defenses in three seasons with Cleveland, and a deep track record of building smart, aggressive units that punch above their weight.
There’s also a key connection here - Mike Vrabel. Schwartz and Vrabel worked together in Tennessee, where Schwartz served as a senior defensive assistant under Vrabel.
The two also crossed paths in Cleveland during the 2024 season, when Vrabel joined the Browns in a consultant role. That familiarity and shared defensive philosophy could make Schwartz an appealing candidate for New England, especially as the Patriots look to re-establish a strong identity on that side of the ball.
But here’s the catch: Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns through 2026, with a team option for 2027. So even though he’s stepped away from the coordinator role, Cleveland still holds his rights - and there’s no guarantee they’d be willing to let him walk to a division rival or any other team without a fight. That means if the Patriots want him, they’d either need to negotiate his release or wait it out, potentially leaving Schwartz on the sidelines for the 2026 season.
From a football perspective, Schwartz would bring instant credibility and a proven system. But there’s a delicate balance to strike here.
Elevating an external candidate - even one as accomplished as Schwartz - could send the wrong message to the locker room, especially after Khur’s strong showing this past season. Players respect consistency and reward performance, and Khur has already earned their trust.
So the Patriots face a classic decision: stick with the rising in-house talent who’s earned his shot, or chase a high-profile veteran with deep ties to the new leadership. Either way, the defense is clearly a priority - and the next hire will say a lot about how New England plans to build under its evolving coaching structure.