Patriots make third and final coordinator hire
The New England Patriots completed filling out the coordinator level of their coaching staff with the hire of defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
The second stage of the coaching staff hiring process is now complete for the New England Patriots. Just over a week after hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach, the team now has all three coordinator spots filled.
That process began with the news on Monday that special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer would be returning in his role for 2025. Then on Tuesday night, the Patriots hired Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. That left the defensive coordinator spot as the lone one yet to be filled.
They filled that role on Wednesday, hiring Detroit Lions defensive line coach and run game coordinator Terrell Williams. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss reported the hire. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz had the early scoop on Tuesday, when he reported that the Pats were “targeting” Williams as DC.

Prior to joining the Lions this year, Williams, 50, was the defensive line coach in Tennessee under Vrabel. Vrabel hired him in his first year with the Titans in 2018, and Williams remained in that role throughout Vrabel’s tenure – getting an additional title of assistant head coach in his final year.
Before joining the Titans, Williams coached defensive linemen for the Raiders and Dolphins. His coaching career began with over a decade spent as a defensive line coach at the college level including stops at Purdue and Texas A&M.
With Williams now in place and all three coordinator spots full, the Patriots will move on to hiring positional coaches. A number of positional coaches from last year’s staff, especially on the offensive side of the ball, have already taken other jobs or are reported to be moving on.