Tag: Terrell Williams

DC Terrell Williams reveals the big draw for coming to New England

Terrell Williams admits Mike Vrabel was a “big, big draw” for him to come to New England

New England Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams opened up about why he chose to come to the Patriots organization in a video posted on the team’s social media account.

Williams served as the defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions last season. He previously worked as a defensive line coach and assistant head coach during Mike Vrabel’s run with the Tennessee Titans.

The opportunity to link back up with Vrabel was a “big draw” for Williams to New England.

“A big reason for coming here was Mike Vrabel,” said Williams. “You know, just believing in him and who he is. I know what he is as a coach. I know who he is as a family man, so that’s important to me. So just having the chance to get back with Mike was a big, big draw for me.”

Williams’ coaching background yielded positive results in both Detroit and Tennessee. The Lions’ defensive unit was one of the most productive in the NFL last season.

One has to wonder how Williams will put his stamp on a Patriots defensive unit that struggled mightily.

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Patriots defensive captain reacts to Terrell Williams DC hiring

Ja’Whaun Bentley approves of the Patriots’ defensive coordinator hiring

New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley is fired up about the team hiring Terrell Williams as the new defensive coordinator. Bentley made his feelings known on social media.

The Patriots fell into a slump on the defensive side of the ball under former coach Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. There’s hope that the unit can finally get back on track under Williams and coach Mike Vrabel.

Bentley, a team captain, suffered a season-ending injury in the Patriots’ Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. His presence was missed throughout the season as the team struggled against the run.

Now, he is looking forward to putting the past in the rearview and starting a new chapter under Williams.

Williams did wonders for the Detroit Lions’ defensive front last season. There’s hope he can do the same right out of the gates for the struggling Patriots.

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Titans All-Pro sends message to Patriots DC Terrell Williams

Titans All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons congratulated Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams

Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons commented on Terrell Williams landing the defensive coordinator position with the New England Patriots.

Simmons had some of his best seasons under Williams. He made the Pro Bowl twice in 2021 and 2022, and he was also named a two-time Second-Team All-Pro in those seasons. He had 8.5 sacks and 54 combined tackles in 2021 and followed that up with 54 combined tackles and 7.5 sacks in 2022.

Simmons signed a four-year contract extension with the Titans in April 2023. He is currently slated to be in Nashville until the end of the 2027 season.

One has to wonder if Simmons could somehow make his way to the Patriots for a reunion with Williams. It’s a long shot at this point considering he is still under contract with the Titans.

However, he’d fill a need for the Patriots along the defensive front, and it’s something fans would obviously love to see. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

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Here are the Patriots’ new coordinators for 2025 season

Mike Vrabel has rounded out his main coaching staff

The coordinators for the 2025 season are set for the New England Patriots.

Coach Mike Vrabel put together a staff of familiar faces, including offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, defensive coordinator Terrell Williams and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer.

McDaniels coached for the Patriots when Vrabel was still in a helmet and shoulder pads with the team. He’s a six-time Super Bowl champion and the most successful offensive coach in franchise history.

Williams worked under Vrabel during their time together with the Tennessee Titans. He is coming off an impressive one-year run as the defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions.

Meanwhile, Springer was brought in by Jerod Mayo last year and allowed to stick around under the new regime after a strong year coaching up the special teams unit.

  • Offensive coordinator: Josh McDaniels
  • Defensive coordinator: Terrell Williams
  • Special teams coordinator: Jeremy Springer

There’s a mix of old and new with Vrabel’s staff, but there will be more experience than the team had under the previous staff. Here’s hoping that leads to better coaching and more wins for the 4-13 Patriots.

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Patriots reportedly make decision on defensive coordinator job

The Patriots are reportedly hiring Terrell Williams as their new defensive coordinator

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.

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.

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Lions lose defensive line coach to the Patriots

Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams is leaving Detroit to be the new defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots

The Detroit Lions are in the market for a new defensive line coach. Terrell Williams, who served in that role in 2024, is heading to New England to become the defensive coordinator of the Patriots.

Williams is reuniting with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who took over last week. The two worked together in Tennessee from 2018 through 2023 with Vrabel as the head coach and Williams the defensive line coach with the Titans.

https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1882049787341508905?t=8WFc3wtATrB_dljhAyPPKg&s=19

Williams spent one year in Detroit after taking over for John Scott, who was dismissed after one season. Williams was also Detroit’s run game coordinator. The next defensive line coach will be Detroit’s fourth in as many seasons.

No word on the fate of assistant defensive line coach Cameron Davis, who has been with the Lions for three years.

Patriots reportedly targeting Lions defensive coach for DC job

The Patriots could be targeting Lions DL coach Terrell Williams as their next defensive coordinator

The New England Patriots are targeting Detroit Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams to be their next defensive coordinator, according to CBS Sports and 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Williams began his coaching career in 1998 and has served multiple positions at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He worked under Mike Vrabel when he served as the defensive line coach and assistant head coach for the Tennessee Titans.

He has since put himself in a position for a promotion after his first year as the defensive line coach for the Lions in 2024. The Lions ranked fifth in the NFL with opposing teams averaging only 98.4 rushing yards per game

Under DeMarcus Covington, the Patriots ranked in the bottom half of the league in run defense.

Williams’ familiarity with Vrabel would make for a seamless transition if he ultimately lands the job. His extensive experience at multiple spots, along with the success he’s found on the way, could be a major get for the rebuilding Patriots.

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Analyzing potential defensive coordinator replacements for Aaron Glenn

Analyzing potential defensive coordinator replacements for Aaron Glenn if he leaves Detroit for a head coaching position

The Lions are already preparing for the real possibility that defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn could be on his way out.

Glenn is one of the top head coach candidates in the NFL after four seasons as DC in Detroit. He’s already interviewed for multiple vacancies including the Bears, Jets and Saints.

Regardless of where Glenn goes, the Lions will need to have a replacement lined up to keep their momentum going in this “Brand New Lions” era of football in Detroit.

Let’s take a look at possible replacements.

Kelvin Sheppard

Assuming Glenn doesn’t take him with him to his next destination, Kelvin Sheppard would be an obvious choice to take over as the next Lions defensive coordinator.

“I think Shep is a young, promising coach. I think he can be a coordinator one day, and I think he can be a head coach one day,” head coach Dan Campbell said in 2023. “I think he’s got that type of potential, so the time is right.”

Sheppard came to Detroit in 2021 as an outside linebackers coach, coming into a dire situation at the position for the defense. During his time as coach, the team invested heavily in its linebackers, drafting Malcolm Rodriguez and Jack Campbell, and pushing veteran Alex Anzalone into a vital role for the unit.

Sheppard fits the mold that Dan Campbell has put in place for his defense, making him the most natural replacement for Glenn.

Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen didn’t have the success he’d hoped for in his two stints as an NFL head coach. The Saints fired Allen before the end of his third season.

Allen has a combined record of 26-53 as a head coach including his time in New Orleans and Oakland. However, his previous work as a defensive coordinator and his history working with Dan Campbell when Campbell coached tight ends for the Saints puts him on the radar for the team’s potential search to replace Aaron Glenn.

Allen has more than two decades of coaching experience in the NFL, leading most other candidates in that regard.

Terrell Williams

The Lions could choose to keep their defensive coordinator in house still by hiring run game coordinator/defensive line coach Terrell Williams.

Williams came to Detroit in 2023 after six seasons as defensive line coach with the Tennessee Titans. From 2018-23, Williams’s unit ranked fourth in the league with 10,044 rushing yards allowed over that span.

He would bring several years of experience at both the professional and collegiate levels to the table, and would be expected to retain the same culture that has driven the Detroit defense to keep up with its high-powered offense.

Jim O’Neil

Climbing down the Lions’ defensive ladder would naturally bring the team to Jim O’Neil.

O’Neil joined the Lions in 2024 as a defensive assistant after several years of bouncing between various roles in the NFL and college. He’s been a defensive coordinator for Northwestern (2021-22), the 49ers (2016) and the Browns (2014-15).

While O’Neil has plenty of experience, he doesn’t have a track record of longevity in any of his previous roles. He has the advantage of being in-house already, but his track record on paper would likely rank him below some of the candidates mentioned earlier.

Honorable Mentions

There are a handful of other long-shot possibilities out there, but they would certainly be surprising hires.

Former Jets head coach Robert Salah, current Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, and veteran NFL DC Steve Wilks.

Those three are among the top names in the league for open coordinator positions, but none of them feel as though they’d fit the direction this Lions franchise is headed.

It’s more than likely they keep Aaron Glenn’s replacement in-house if possible as they aim to keep the culture they’ve built strong for years to come with a defense that would, in theory, be healthier and more talented next season.

Josh Paschal proving power is his preferred path to the passer

Lions DL Josh Paschal proving power is his preferred path to the passer, embracing one defined role after two years of searching

The first two seasons with the Detroit Lions weren’t as successful as hoped for defensive end Josh Paschal. The 2022 second-round pick from Kentucky has recorded just three sacks in 22 career games.

Injuries played an unfortunate role in Paschal’s slow start. But entering his third year, Paschal has also battled being a “tweener” at 6-foot-3 and fluctuating between 260 and 275 pounds, moving between stand-up EDGE and sub-package DT, it was hard to really pinpoint what Paschal offered as a defender.

That’s changing in Year 3 for Paschal. He now knows what role he’s meant to hold in Detroit.

“I’m a power guy. I’m a power rusher,” Paschal said this week in a post-practice media session. “I’m a strong guy and a bigger end and I play with power. I’m that rough, dirty guy.”

It’s fit Paschal well. No. 93 has had some positive moments throughout the summer, and nearly all of them have come as a result of using his power for his size to create an advantage. Paschal is at his best when attacking power-to-speed, pressing the B-gap or looping and twisting inside.

That is Paschal’s identity as a pass rusher, one he admits it took him some time to embrace.

“I feel like every player has an identity. I just had to embrace that,” Paschal continued. ” That has given me the confidence to go out here so far and play with that identity to be that physical player. Man, I’m just excited for this upcoming season to show that.”

Paschal was quick to credit new defensive line coach Terrell Williams for the needed epiphany. It’s transformed Paschal from a player who some questioned would make the roster into a more reliable, more effective and integral piece of the defensive front.

Mekhi Wingo making a name for himself in Lions camp with his grit factor

Lions rookie DL Mekhi Wingo talks about his gritty mindset, learning from Alim McNeill and why Terrell Williams is a great DL coach

The word “Grit” is something of a catchphrase for the Dan Campbell edition of the Detroit Lions. Campbell himself frequently dons a hat emblazoned with grit in all caps.

It’s more than a slogan. It’s a mindset that is required to become a successful member of these Detroit Lions. That grit is something that was easy to spot in Detroit’s sixth-round draft pick, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo from LSU.

Wingo certainly checked that grit box. Wingo’s choice to play in LSU’s bowl game despite missing the end of the Tigers season with an injury is grit epitomized.

“It’s a mindset that was instilled in me since I was young,” Wingo said after a practice this week. “I was given the number 18 by (LSU), the first transfer to ever wear the number 18. I felt like I didn’t get my full season and I didn’t want it to go to waste.”

Wingo continued,

“I felt like I owed it to myself and owed it to my team.”

It’s that team-first mindset that is helping Wingo acclimate quickly to Detroit’s defensive line. Wingo, now wearing No. 94, credits linemate Alim McNeill for going out of his way to help him learn the finer points of playing tackle in the NFL despite not having great length. Wingo is six feet tall and currently weighs 288.

“He’s been teaching me how to take on double teams from (McNeill), how to work different techniques. And watching how he sets up his rushes to get to his winning moves,” Wingo said.

Wingo also praised new Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams.

“He’s great,” Wingo said with an excited smile. “He doesn’t try to coach every guy the same. He knows I’m an undersized guy, so he gives me tools that help me — you know, my game is different from bigger guys we have on the team. He lets me put my spin on things.”

Wingo has spent most of training camp working with the second-team defense, playing all over the line–even standing up at DE from time to time. Wingo bagged a would-be sack during Friday’s scrimmage and has been stout against the run ever since the pads came on. He’s nicely carving out a spot for himself with his gritty, mature approach.