Patriots hire a new defensive coordinator
The New England Patriots have decided on their new defensive coordinator. Head coach Mike Vrabel has chosen Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams to fill the position.
Demarcus Covington, who was the Patriots defensive coordinator last season, remains in limbo. Covington has interviewed with the Cincinnati Bengals for their vacant defensive coordinator spot.
Williams has familiarity with Vrabel, as he coached with him for five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The 50-year-old Williams held the same title as defensive line coach from 2018-22. Vrabel spoke very highly of his new defensive coordinator when he got named a head coach in the 2024 Senior Bowl.
“There is no more deserving person to be a head coach for the Senior Bowl or any level than Terrell Williams. His loyalty, dedication, and service to the Titans program for the last six years have not gone unnoticed. Terrell is a creative teacher and developer who also makes a unique connection with his players and those on the other side of the ball. I can’t thank him enough for the impact that he has made on me personally as well as with our team. I am excited to watch him excel as a head coach in the Senior Bowl.”
Drafted in 2019, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons emerged as a top defensive tackle while Williams was in Tennessee. He became a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler under his tutelage. Simmons finished with 8.5 and 7.5 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
"I respect Coach T so much, and it's not just about the game of football," Simmons said."You have to be able to connect with your players. Coach T is a helluva coach, a smart coach. I fully expect him to be a head coach in this league eventually."
The Patriots defensive line heading into next season is currently led by Christian Barmore and Keion White. Barmore struggled this season to stay healthy as he had a health scare with blood clots that kept him out for much of the year. White, a promising young player, was unable to take his game to the next level.
The 26-year-old was outspoken to Karen Guregien of MassLive towards the end of last season. He not only questioned his future here in New England but also expressed his frustration and disappointment with his production and communication with coaches.
“It’s the honest truth. I operate in black and white. So if it is, it is. If it ain’t, it ain’t,” he said. “And I feel like I’m not playing good run defense. It’s a multitude of reasons why. It’s an internal thing we need to figure out.
“I don’t think it’s just one thing. I think it’s a lot of things. First and foremost, it’s me," White continued. “I need to improve me, and being on the same page with what the coaches want. But I think it’s a lot of other things as well. Without going too much into details, that’s how I feel.”
Presuming he remains in New England, White will be a large determining factor of the defensive success next season. In a scenario where Vrabel and Williams are able to work with him and get the best out of him, as they did with Simmons, it will go a long way.
The Patriots will work to continue to fill out their coaching staff. Vrabel hired Josh McDaniels on Tuesday, locking in the offensive coordinator. He will need to fill out the remainder of his staff, including hiring a tight ends coach, offensive line coach, wide receiver coach, and running backs coach.
