The New England Patriots are restructuring their defensive coaching staff, moving Terrell Williams from defensive coordinator to a high-ranking role on head coach Mike Vrabel's team, sources confirmed. Williams, who missed the entire 2025 season after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, has recently been cleared to return to coaching duties.

Williams initially joined the Patriots in January 2025 when Vrabel hired him, specifically citing Williams' ability to build meaningful connections with players. The defensive coordinator had previously served as defensive line coach on Vrabel's staff with the Tennessee Titans. When Williams faced a health scare in the spring, inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr stepped in as de facto coordinator during organized team activities.

Kuhr, 37, continued in the playcalling role after Williams returned for training camp but left when diagnosed with prostate cancer. Under Kuhr's leadership, the defense became the backbone of the Patriots' Super Bowl LX run. The move creates an opening for Kuhr to potentially assume the defensive coordinator position full-time, though the Patriots have not yet made an official announcement about the permanent replacement.