Mike Vrabel opts for a familiar face, but one Patriots fans might not recognize, to be the new defensive coordinator

A day after hiring Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator, the New England Patriots have also zeroed in on their new defensive coordinator. Mike Vrabel has chosen Terrell Williams, who spent the 2024 season as the Detroit Lions' defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Williams might not be a familiar name to Patriots fans, […]

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer
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Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams communicates with players during the second half against Tennessee Titans at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

A day after hiring Josh McDaniels as their offensive coordinator, the New England Patriots have also zeroed in on their new defensive coordinator. Mike Vrabel has chosen Terrell Williams, who spent the 2024 season as the Detroit Lions' defensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Williams might not be a familiar name to Patriots fans, since he's never been a defensive coordinator before. But he is very familiar to Vrabel—Williams spent six seasons under Vrabel for the Tennessee Titans. He was a defensive line coach from 2018 to 2022, also adding assistant head coach responsibilities in 2023.

When Mike Vrabel got fired in Tennessee, Terrell Williams was immediately hired by the Lions to lead their running game. In 2024, the Lions were 12th in defensive rush EPA and fourth in rush success rate.

Now, the top of the Patriots' coaching staff has been decided.

  • Head coach: Mike Vrabel
  • Offensive coordinator: Josh McDaniels
  • Defensive coordinator: Terrell Williams
  • Special teams coordinator: Jeremy Springer

Track record

A 50-year-old coach, Terrell Williams started his career in 1998 as a defensive line coach at Fort Scott. He also worked in the same role at North Carolina A&T, Youngstown State, Akron, Purdue, and Texas A&M.

He moved to the NFL in 2012, and worked with the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Titans, and Lions.

A career-long defensive line coach, he progressed in his career over the last two seasons—in 2023, as the Titans assistant head coach, and in 2024, as the Lions run game coordinator.

Now, it's a new challenge, and his first experience as a defensive coordinator and playcaller.

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