The New England Patriots have made inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr their defensive coordinator after the 37-year-old called plays this season in the absence of Terrell Williams
22:24 ET, 17 Feb 2026Updated 22:24 ET, 17 Feb 2026
Zak Kuhr stands on the sideline
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The Patriots have hired Zak Kuhr to be their next defensive coordinator(Image: Getty Images)
The New England Patriots are improving from within after promoting an assistant coach who stepped up in the absence of one of the coaching staff's leaders.
Just over one week removed from a gut-wrenching 29-13 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, the Patriots announced that they would be hiring inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr as their newest defensive coordinator. The 37-year-old served as New England’s defensive playcaller for all but one week of the 2025-26 campaign upon filling in for Terrell Williams, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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Williams — whose treatment has fortunately been successful, as he was declared cancer-free just days before the Super Bowl trip — won’t be going far, though. The Patriots’ former defensive coordinator has been elevated to a higher role on New England’s staff, with head coach Mike Vrabel confirming that he’s been cleared to resume working.
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Prior to accompanying Vrabel to New England last offseason, Kuhr worked under the two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year on the Titans. He initially began his tenure in Tennessee as a quality control coach before serving as inside linebacker assistant from 2021-2023.
Kuhr enjoyed a one-season stint as a New York Giants defensive assistant during the 2024 campaign, but ultimately decided to rejoin Vrabel on the Patriots.
Under Kuhr’s leadership this past season, the Patriots emerged as one of the most formidable defensive units in the NFL. New England ranked third in the league in opponent points per game (17.9) and fifth in opponent yards per game (284.9) while limiting opposing offenses to a meagre 8.6 points across three postseason victories entering Super Sunday.
Given all that the Patriots accomplished with Kuhr at the helm, Williams was quick to give his mentee due praise. "Zak deserves a lot of credit of taking over this defense and I'm really proud of those guys," Williams said.
Zak Kuhr appears at Patriots practice
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Kuhr played a pivotal role in the success of the Patriots' defense this past season(Image: Getty Images)
"I'm really happy to see [Kuhr and the staff] continue to thrive and preach the message that Vrabes is really preaching."
Despite all the added responsibilities thrust onto Kuhr’s plate, Williams insisted that he never changed his approach or defected from the team’s overall goal. “We all believe in the same things,” Williams added.
“The message has been the same throughout, from the time we got there to the time we met today. So, whether it’s Zak, or whether it’s Scott Booker, or whoever it is, we’re all preaching the same message.
“Sometimes, when you coach in this league, you’ve got coaches who are pulling in different directions. Everybody has a motive. The only motive for us was to improve. Not to win, but to improve.
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“We figured that the improvement would come, but Zak has done an unbelievable job.”
Vrabel additionally made sure to give Kuhr his flowers, adding: "Zak has been fantastic. I think that, much like players when given opportunities, coaches sometimes have the same thing.
“When they get more opportunity, they take advantage of it and then turn that into something else."