Terrell Williams is officially back with the New England Patriots after a hard-fought and inspiring battle with prostate cancer. But while his return is a major win for the organization on a personal and professional level, it comes with a shift in responsibilities-Williams will not be resuming his role as defensive coordinator.
Instead, the Patriots are moving the 51-year-old into what’s being described as a “high-ranking role” within the coaching staff. While the exact title hasn’t been announced, it’s clear Williams will remain a key figure in the building, just not as the defensive play-caller.
Williams joined the Patriots last season as part of Mike Vrabel’s inaugural staff. The two have a long-standing connection, and Williams came in with a strong reputation as a defensive line specialist and leader. But his first year in Foxborough was anything but typical.
After being hired, Williams spent most of the spring working remotely from Detroit due to what he later called a “health scare.” He returned in time for training camp and was on the sideline calling defensive plays in Week 1.
But shortly after, he stepped away from the team again-this time for unrelated medical reasons. Then came the news no one wanted to hear: in late September, Vrabel announced that Williams had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and would be away from the team indefinitely.
Stepping into the void was inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, another new hire from the 2025 offseason. Kuhr had already filled in for Williams during the spring and was well-versed in the defensive system.
When he took over play-calling duties, there was no drop-off. In fact, the Patriots’ defense thrived under his leadership, finishing fourth in the league in points allowed and helping carry the team all the way to the Super Bowl.
Fast forward to early February, and the best news of all arrived-Williams was declared cancer-free. That opened the door for his return to the team, but with Kuhr’s breakout performance and the continuity he’s built with the defensive unit, the Patriots are keeping him in the coordinator role moving forward.
“There’ll be a lot of things that we’ll have to work through there,” Vrabel said earlier this week. “T’s healthy and been given a release to be back and be back at work. So, I’ll work through all those things here in the next couple days, weeks, however long those decisions may take.”
For now, it’s a win-win situation in Foxborough. Williams is healthy and back in the building, bringing with him a wealth of experience and leadership.
Kuhr, meanwhile, looks poised to officially take the reins of a defense that’s already proven it can perform at a high level under his guidance. The Patriots are building something solid on that side of the ball-and now they’ve got two strong minds helping lead the charge.