Just one year after his arrival, Terrell Williams’ tenure as New England Patriots defensive coordinator has come to an end. However, the move that was reported on Thursday was not due to performance but
rather circumstance: Williams missed significant time in 2025 due to medical reasons, with inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr doing a commendable job as stand-in play-caller.
As a consequence, Mike Vrabel’s hand was forced and the Patriots will now move forward with Williams in what has been described as a “high-ranking role.” What does this mean for the team, though? Let’s take a big-picture view at the move.
Familiar arrangement
Despite having almost three decades of experience as an assistant coach, the 2025 season was actually Williams’ first as a defensive coordinator at any level of the sport. That said, he is not unfamiliar with a job that would fit the “high-ranking” label mentioned in the initial report of his change of role.
Back in 2023, which was Mike Vrabel’s final year as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Williams added the assistant head coach title to his role as defensive line coach. While he will not return to working with a position group, him becoming assistant HC to Vrabel very well be in the cards — especially after he already filled an advisory-type role for the Patriots whenever he was available in 2025.
It would be a natural progression given the circumstances, and an arrangement not familiar to both Williams and Vrabel.
Zak Kuhr, next man up?
With Williams vacating the defensive coordinator role, the expectation is that the aforementioned Zak Kuhr will be promoted to officially get the job he already unofficially held during the Patriots’ 2025 Super Bowl campaign. That said, NFL rules prevent the move from being that straight-forward.
New England, after all, will still have to satisfy the Rooney Rule before naming a new DC. This means that the club will have to interview at least one external minority or female candidate for the position.
In addition, while Kuhr seemingly has earned the promotion, the Patriots also might want to see what else is available on the coaching market. Two names stand out in that respect: longtime Mike Vrabel collaborator Shane Bowen, the Titans’ former defensive coordinator, as well as recently-resigned Browns DC Jim Schwartz. Kuhr is still the overwhelming favorite, but there are plenty of other noteworthy coaches available at the moment as well.
Trickle-down effect
When all is said and done, any outcome other than Zak Kuhr being named defensive coordinator would be a surprise. The question then becomes, who would succeed him as inside linebackers coach.
The Patriots could make the soon-to-be-open spot part of the search they will have to conduct to officially fill Williams’ spot on the coaching staff. They also could promote internally, with defensive assistant Vinny DePalma seemingly a top candidate to take over should Kuhr indeed move up the ranks.
