"According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are moving defensive coordinator Terrell Williams into a "high-ranking" role on Mike Vrabel 's staff - opening up the defensive coordinator position for the 2026 season. Rapoport noted that Patriots inside linebacker coach Zak Kuhr is considered the top candidate to take over as the team's full-time DC moving forward. Williams - who was named as New England's DC after spending six seasons with the Titans - had to take a leave of absence in the spring because of health issues."
"Rapoport noted in his report that Williams is now cancer-free, and traveled with the Patriots to San Francisco for Super Bowl LX. "My thoughts are about the game, and not really about me or the Super Bowl or anything," Williams told Christopher Price of The Boston Globe at Super Bowl Opening Night. "This could be a preseason game and I'd be happy to be here with these guys after what I've been through. What we've been through.""
"With Williams sidelined for most of the year, Vrabel and the Patriots turned to Kuhr as the team's interim play-caller on defense, a role Kuhr carried all the way through Super Bowl LX. Kuhr, 37, had never called plays in the NFL prior to this season. But, New England's defense rallied around their new play-caller - ranking fourth in the NFL in points allowed during regular season play."
The New England Patriots reassigned defensive coordinator Terrell Williams into a high-ranking role on Mike Vrabel's staff, creating an opening at defensive coordinator for the 2026 season. Inside linebacker coach Zak Kuhr is the leading internal candidate to assume the full-time defensive coordinator position. Williams took multiple leaves of absence during the year for health reasons and was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he is now cancer-free and traveled with the team to San Francisco for Super Bowl LX. Kuhr served as the interim defensive play-caller for most of the season and through the Super Bowl. New England's defense finished fourth in the NFL in points allowed during the regular season and held opponents to 13.8 points per game across four postseason contests.
Read at Boston.com
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