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Patriots make final decision on defensive coordinator

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 1:21 AM ET

The New England Patriots are less than two weeks removed from a 29-12 Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

But, head coach Mike Vrabel has already made it official by naming Zak Kuhr the full-time defensive coordinator. Kuhr became the interim DC in 2025 after Terrell Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September.

Sources: Patriots linebackers coach Zak Kuhr, who was the interim defensive coordinator last season, is having the interim title pulled and now becoming the full-time defensive coordinator.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 17, 2026

Williams was the defensive line coach for the Detroit Lions in 2024, but Vrabel hired him as the DC in 2025. Williams was with Vrabel as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023.

Williams was declared cancer-free, and he was able to travel with the team to the Super Bowl, but Kuhr continued to call the plays. After the Super Bowl, New England decided to move Williams to a “high-ranking role,” freeing up the DC spot with Kuhr expected to be the guy for the job.

Kuhr was with Williams and Vrabel in Tennessee from 2021 to 2023, and he was with the New York Giants in 2024 before being hired as the Patriots’ inside linebackers coach in 2025.

Kuhr also spent time in college with stops at James Madison, Rutgers, Texas State and Texas, among others.

The New England defense posted the NFL’s eighth-best defense during the regular season in yards allowed and the fourth-best defense in points allowed.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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