Before the start of the 2025 season, the New England Patriots announced that new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams would be stepping away from the team to undergo treatment for a new cancer diagnosis. That immediately put outside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr in the driver's seat for the defense, and despite the pressure, he helped make the Patriots' group one of the best in the league.
There was a lot of uncertainty about what the staff would look like heading into the 2026 season, especially since it was announced that Williams had completed his treatment and could return to the team.
It didn't take long for them to reveal that he would be back on the sideline in a different role, and that Kuhr would remain the defensive play caller. And now we know what Williams' new title will be, as the team just revealed the 2026 coaching staff.
Williams will officially be an assistant head coach.
The 2026 Patriots coaching staff 🙌 pic.twitter.com/doVySoYh7k
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 16, 2026
Terrell Williams will have a big hand in the Patriots' defensive identity in 2026
Before making the official announcement this week, Vrabel had spoken about what Williams' new role would entail, sharing he would remain with the defense and have a heavy involvement in "presenting information and ideas and making sure [we're] really solid across the front from [our] edges to the interior."
Given his experience in the role and on the defense as a whole, it's best that Williams remains there, especially after a season like the Patriots put together in 2025.
Not only will he be another voice for the players to learn from, but he will also be invaluable to Kuhr now that he is officially resuming the defensive coordinator role. It was quite a jump for the 37-year-old, and having a mentor like Williams can only make him a better coach.