MOBILE, AL — Shortly after practice wrapped on Day 2 of Senior Bowl week, the news broke that Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who is here in Mobile as the head coach for the American Team, would be leaving the organization for a job with the Detroit Lions.

Williams was hired by the Titans when Mike Vrabel took the team’s head coach job back in 2018. He has been on Vrabel’s staff ever since and was named the assistant head coach in Tennessee for the 2023 season.

While Williams was still repping his Titans hoodie at practice on Wednesday, his expected departure will be a big loss for Tennessee’s defense.

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Since Williams joined the Titans in 2018, he has helped the defensive line in Tennessee be one of the organization's most stable position groups. Jurrell Casey made the Pro Bowl in 2018 & 2019. Jeffery Simmons (who Tennessee drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft) has developed into one of the league’s best defensive tackles and recently got a massive contract extension. Denico Autry just had the best year of his career and recorded 11.5 sacks at age 33, and the Titans even got production from undrafted free agent Teair Tart.

Williams has always been well-received by players on the Titans’ defensive line and was valued highly by Mike Vrabel. Vrabel let Williams act as the Titans head coach during a preseason game earlier this season and was the person who recommended him for the opportunity to be a head coach at the Senior Bowl.

“There is no more deserving person to be a head coach for the Senior Bowl or any level than Terrell Williams," said Vrabel in a recent statement. "His loyalty, dedication, and service to the Titans program for the last six years has not gone unnoticed. Terrell is a creative teacher and developer who also makes a unique connection with his players and those on the other side of the ball. I can’t thank him enough for the impact that he has made on me personally as well as with our team. I am excited to watch him excel as a head coach in the Senior Bowl.”

Brian Callahan and Ran Carthon have been off to a hot start filling out the new Titans coaching staff, including the hiring of Dennard Wilson as defense coordinator that is praised by people around the league. Tennessee has also added Bill Callahan as the offensive line coach according to reports. But if we’re being real about the situation, losing Williams is going to hurt.

Williams will now join a Lions staff under Dan Campbell, who he coached with in Miami back in 2015. Campbell was the interim head coach that season while Williams was the Dolphins' defensive line coach.

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