The New England Patriots are reportedly hiring Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams as their new defensive coordinator, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss.
It’s an expected move for Patriots coach Mike Vrabel considering he worked with Williams throughout his six-year tenure with the Tennessee Titans. Williams served as the defensive line coach for the Titans, but Vrabel believed in him so much that he promoted him to assistant head coach in 2023.
He’ll now rejoin Vrabel in New England with a long-awaited promotion as a defensive coordinator. The Patriots have better talent on paper than they showed on the football field last season. It’ll fall on Williams to get the most out of the unit.
Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who worked with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee from 2018-2023, is leaving Detroit to become the Patriots defensive coordinator, sources tell @MikeReiss and me.
Vrabel thought so highly of Williams that he had him serve as head coach of the… pic.twitter.com/sZdeQoT6NL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 22, 2025
Williams being hired completes the coordinator search for the Patriots. Josh McDaniels is expected to return as offensive coordinator, and the team is keeping Jeremy Springer on to coach special teams.