Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr has taken over Williams’ role for the time being.
Update 5/9/2025: ‘Eye-opening medical scare’ keeping Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams sidelined
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams took the time to meet with the media on Friday afternoon, a few hours after head coach Mike Vrabel announced that he would be absent from rookie minicamp due to a “medical condition.” As Williams himself put it, the situation was quite drastic.
Referring to the event as “eye-opening” and “life-changing,” the 50-year-old did not provide any specifics of what had happened. He did, however, say that his medical situation developed during a spring break and that he currently is at his home in Detroit per his doctor’s orders.
“You think you’re invincible,” he said. “But when things like this happen, you realize that, ‘Hey, we got to slow down a little bit and take care of our health.’”
Williams also made sure to point out that he would be “away from the building [but] not away from the team” and that he is “working remotely right now.” He additionally spoke highly of the support he received from his head coach.
“You guys think you know him. You know the football coach. I know the person,” he said about Mike Vrabel. “That person means a lot to me with what he’s been — and long before this has happened. He means a lot to me.”
Williams added that Vrabel seemingly texted him every day at 5 in the morning to check in. Like his head coach, he did not offer any timeline for a potential return to Gillette Stadium.
Original story 5/9/2025: Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams missing rookie minicamp due to medical condition
The New England Patriots are starting their 2025 rookie minicamp on Friday, and there will be one prominent absence. Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams will not be on the field, as was announced by head coach Mike Vrabel during a press conference.
According to Vrabel, the 50-year-old is “working through a medical condition” and that the two have “been in constant communication.”
“Terrell’s eager to get back, and we’re excited to get him back,” Vrabel added. “He’s still been in contact with the players through Zoom, and with myself and the rest of the coaching staff.”
Williams arrived in New England earlier this offseason to reunite with Vrabel. The pair previously worked together in Tennessee from 2018 to 2023, when Vrabel served as the Titans’ head coach and Williams as their defensive line coach.
Following a one-year stint as defensive line coach with the Detroit Lions, Williams was offered the Patriots’ vacant defensive coordinator position. In his absence, the responsibilities associated with it will be handled by inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, Vrabel said.
“Just feel like Zak has a great knowledge of what we’ve done here in the past with me and this system and Terrell,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel mentioned that he would not provide any timeline for Williams, but that he would be made available by the team later on Friday. The Patriots have since announced that their the defensive coordinator will host a video conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET.