Dan Campbell's coaching staff is losing another piece. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss, Lions defensive line coach/run game coordinator Terrell Williams is leaving Detroit to become the New England Patriots defensive coordinator.
The news is not surprising, with Reiss and Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports each reporting in recent days that Williams was a top candidate (if not the top candidate) to become the Patriots' defensive coordinator now that the Lions' season is over.
Williams spent six seasons under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans (2018-2023), adding assistant head coach to his title as defensive line coach in that final season. As Schefter noted, Vrabel had Williams serve as the Titans' head coach during the team's 2023 preseason opener.
Williams work with an injury-depleted Lions' defensive line this season was notable, and he's been seen as one of the best defensive line coaches in the league for awhile. Last year, Campbell said he thought Williams was the best defensive line coach in the league.
"I’ve known Terrell and long, long time and I just think that he’s an absolutely excellent coach, and (assistant defensive line coach) Cam Davis continues to grow as a coach as well and they work well together," Campbell said last month, via SI.com. "I think they give our guys the best opportunity to have success in a game which is what you want.”
With Zenitz's report on Tuesday, one of Williams' pupils in Detroit was not thrilled.
Noooooooooooo https://t.co/7Td12SmxIe
— Mekhi Wingo (@WingoMekhi) January 21, 2025
Lions lose Terrell Williams to Patriots' defensive coordinator job
If Williams was going to leave the Lions, it's fair to assume it was going to have to be a unique opportunity and not just a lateral move. A chance to work under Vrabel again and be a defensive coordinator is the sweet spot of that category, and perhaps the only scenario he would have left under.
Campbell will now look to hire the fourth defensive line coach of his tenure as Lions' head coach. Williams replaced John Scott Jr., who spent one season (2023) in the role. Todd Wash as the Lions' defensive line coach for Campbell's first two seasons. Assistant defensive line coach Cam Davis looks like the clear-cut top internal candidate to replace Williams.