New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots will be without defensive coordinator Terrell Williams in Week 2 vs. the Miami Dolphins as the 51-year-old undergoes testing for an unspecified health issue.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel revealed on Friday that inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr will be calling defensive plays on Sunday in Williams’ place.
“Mike Vrabel says ILBs coach Zak Kuhr will call defensive plays on Sunday,” Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald posted on Bluesky. “No update on DC Terrell Williams, who has been away from the team for unspecified health reasons.”
Kuhr — who discussed Williams’ absence on Thursday — is in his first year with the Patriots after serving as a defensive assistant with the New York Giants last season.
Vrabel and Kuhr worked together for four seasons from 2020 to 2023, with the former as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Kuhr was the Titans quality control coach in 2020 before serving as the team’s inside linebackers assistant coach for three years.
New England hired Williams in January, giving the longtime college and NFL defensive line coach his first coordinating gig.
He was a member of Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee as well, holding the role of defensive line coach from 2018 to 2023. Williams was the defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator for the Detroit Lions in 2024.
