FOXBORO — Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams is back at Gillette Stadium for the first time in months after a health scare.
Head coach Mike Vrabel announced Tuesday morning that Williams had made his return to the facility. Wililams was kept out of spring practices while dealing with an undisclosed medical condition.
“(Terrell) is here and ready to go,” Vrabel said. “Players were excited to see him. I was excited to see him.”
Vrabel first announced that Williams would be away from the team ahead of rookie minicamp in May.
“I came back home here to Detroit, for spring break, and had a little medical scare. I mean, it wasn’t a little medical scare. It was a medical scare,” Williams said via video conference call during the spring. “Since then, per doctor’s orders, I’ve kind of stayed here, in Detroit, and been handling that.”
Williams said at the time that he would reveal the details of the medical condition when the timing is right. He hasn’t spoken to the media since May.
Williams stayed involved with players and the team through video conference calls. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filled in as the Patriots’ on-field defensive playcaller through Williams’ absence.
“Really want to thank the New England Patriots organization, but in particular Stretch (vice president of football operations and strategy John Streicher) and Mike Vrabel,” Williams said. “Vrabes has been unbelievable. I mean, I talk to him at least once a day, and he’s he’s been unbelievably supportive in everything that we’re doing. We communicate every day. …
“And (inside linebackers coach) Zak Kuhr has done an unbelievable job while I’ve been away, and we’ve communicated daily on just the things that need to get done. And I’ve also been in communication with the players often, so it’s been good for me. But again, I’m not away, I’m not off the football team. I’m just, I’m working remotely right now.”
Williams, 51, spent 2018 through 2023 with Vrabel on the Titans as his head coach’s defensive line coach. He spent the 2024 season as a defensive line coach/run game coordinator before being hired as a first-time defensive coordinator by the Patriots this offseason.
Williams has also coached defensive line in college and with the Raiders and Dolphins.
