Report: Patriots Make Major Terrell Williams Decision Amid Defensive Coordinator Uncertainty

Terrell Williams is cancer-free and now he’s reportedly getting a promotion.

“The Patriots are moving defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to a high-ranking role on the staff, per me & @tompelissero.bsky.social, with Williams now cancer-free,” NFL Network national insider Ian Rapoport posted on Bluesky. “They’ve opened up the DC position, with ILBs coach Zak Kuhr, who called plays during the Super Bowl run, a top candidate.”

The Patriots are moving defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to a high-ranking role on the staff, per me & @tompelissero.bsky.social, with Williams now cancer-free. They’ve opened up the DC position, with ILBs coach Zak Kuhr, who called plays during the Super Bowl run, a top candidate.

— Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet.bsky.social) 2026-02-12T21:53:55.840Z

Rapoport speculated that Williams’ new role could be associate head coach, assistant head coach, defensive assistant or “something like that.”

“Williams is cancer-free, he’s going to be back in the building next (season). This is a very good sign for him (and) for his health,” Rapoport said.

Officially making Zak Kuhr the new defensive coordinator would appear to be a given.

“He is considered to be the leading candidate for defensive coordinator and, just being real, seems like he’s got a pretty good shot at it,” Rapoport said. “More coming out of New England, but certainly looks like Zak Kuhr is in good position to be the new DC.”

Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September, giving way to Kuhr, who began calling defensive plays in Week 2.

Head coach Mike Vrabel revealed in late January that Williams would travel with the team to Super Bowl LX and it was reported soon after that the 51-year-old was cancer-free.