Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams diagnosed with prostate cancer
Williams didn't coach in the Patriots' last two games due to a previously undisclosed health issue.
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, head coach Mike Vrabel announced Friday.
“This week is Crucial Catch and I unfortunately have to tell you that Terrell Williams was determined to have prostate cancer and is in the process of treatment, meeting with specialists and figuring out the best plan of attack to heal it, fix it, and allow him to get back to better health,” Vrabel said.
“You know how much Terrell means to me and the people around this football team. So, we want to send our regards and just publicly let everyone know that’s what he’s dealing with.”
Williams, 51, had been dealing with an undisclosed health issue over the last few weeks. He left the team prior to their Week 2 win over the Dolphins and didn’t coach that game. Williams has been around the team more recently, defensive line coach Clint McMillan told reporters on Thursday. However, Williams didn’t coach in the Patriots’ Week 3 loss to the Steelers.
Vrabel believes that the plan is for Williams to remain in the Boston area to undergo cancer treatment, adding that the defensive coordinator will be around the team “as much as he can.”
“I don’t know if he could get any better anywhere else,” Vrabel said. “Our medical staff and the people in this town have been fantastic to get this started in that process.”
Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, who called defensive plays for the Patriots in Weeks 2 and 3, will continue to call defensive plays moving forward, according to Vrabel.
“I felt like that went well,” Vrabel said of Kuhr. “I think the communication through the week and the organization hasn’t missed a beat whatsoever. So, I think those guys are doing a great job over there.”
Williams was one of the first coaches Vrabel hired to his staff when he became the Patriots head coach this offseason. The two worked together when Vrabel was the Titans’ head coach, with Williams serving as the defensive line coach for all six years he was there. He worked as the Lions’ defensive line coach in 2024.
“When you do this, you’ve got to have people that you trust implicitly, that are loyal,” Vrabel said of his relationship with Williams. “He’s been that. When you get into [expletive] storms during the season, he’s got an ability to reach everybody. He always kept me in perspective, very few people. He’s always willing to share his thoughts with me as I needed a guardrail.
“Going through this thing the first time and having guys like him with me, I’m very conscious of their ability to help me do my job and to help the team.”
Williams was away from the team during voluntary workouts and practices over the offseason due to an undisclosed illness. He eventually returned to the team for the start of training camp.
“Our thoughts and prayers — and T (Williams) knows all this, we talk all the time — are with him and his family,” Vrabel said. “We care about him.”
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