Patriots’ Terrell Williams Sidelines Himself Mysteriously: What’s Behind the Unexpected Absence?

The Patriots find themselves navigating rookie minicamp without the steady presence of their defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams. Head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed on Friday that Williams is sidelined due to a medical issue, leaving an uneasy void on the sidelines. There’s no clear timeline for his return yet, and per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Williams has been absent for nearly a month now. Still, Vrabel reassures that the connection remains strong—Williams stays connected to the squad and coaching staff through Zoom, eager to bounce back and rejoin the fray. Having built a long track record alongside Vrabel with the Titans, plus stints with the Raiders, Dolphins, and recently Detroit, Williams’ absence is felt deeply. In his stead, inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr is stepping up, bringing valuable insight from past collaborations with both Vrabel and Williams to keep the defense humming. It’s a challenging time for the Patriots — but the pulse of the team isn’t breaking just yet. LEARN MORE

Head coach Mike Vrabel announced on Friday that defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is not with the team for rookie minicamp, telling reporters Williams is “working through a medical condition,” The Patriots have been working without one of their key assistants in the building. Williams has also served as the defensive line coach for the Raiders and Dolphins in the league. In 2024, he was Detroit’s defensive line coach and run game coordinator.Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr has stepped in to perform Williams’ duties, Vrabel said.“Zak has great knowledge of what we’ve done in the past, with me and this system, and with Terrell,” Vrabel said.

Williams, 50, previously worked with Vrabel with the Titans, where he served as the club’s defensive line coach for Vrabel’s entire tenure from 2018-2023. Tennessee added assistant head coach to his title in Williams’ final year with the club.Vrabel did not put a timeline on when Williams would return to the franchise. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, Williams has been away from the team for about the last month.“I have been in constant communication with him daily,” Vrabel said, via Reiss. “Terrell is eager to get back. We’re excited to get him back. He’s still been in contact with the players through Zoom, and with myself, and the rest of the coaching staff.”