The NFL scouting combine is going down in Indianapolis this week, marking Mike Vrabel's first time attending the event as the New England Patriots head coach. The former linebacker-turned-coach was hired last month to replace the departed Jerod Mayo, leaving time to tell if Vrabel is the right man to return the Patriots to prominence.
Vrabel has spent the early offseason fleshing out his 2025 staff, which includes hiring Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator. On Tuesday, the Patriots HC revealed his DC's responsibilities for the upcoming campaign.
Patriots News: DC Terrell Williams Will Call Plays in 2025
During his latest media availability, Vrabel revealed to reporters that Williams will be calling defensive plays during the 2025 season.
"(Williams is) gonna be the defensive coordinator. He's gonna call defenses," Vrabel said. "He's an aggressive-minded coach that's coached really aggressive defensive linemen... I've enjoyed the process of what he's learned when he's gone to Detroit, and what he learned with us in Tennessee."
LIVE: Head Coach Mike Vrabel from the NFL Combine: https://t.co/5AxakzuEAf
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 25, 2025
Vrabel is hoping that Williams' presence can help turn around a Patriots defense that finished with the ninth-worst overall grade on Pro Football Focus last season. Meanwhile, the Lions — who boasted an NFL-best 15-2 record — finished with the fifth-best defensive effort while Williams' success as the defensive line coach helped them finish 10th in terms of run defense.
For comparison, New England tallied the eighth-worst run defense grade.
Still, it remains to be seen if Williams can handle being a defensive coordinator, which is a position he's yet to hold at any level of football. The 50-year-old DC has never been a primary play-caller before, making Vrabel's announcement even more surprising.
Although Williams' inexperience might concern some fans, he likely won't be thrown into the fire alone. With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels being more than experienced at his job, Vrabel can afford to take some time to help Williams learn the ropes, ensuring that he never feels like he's in over his head.
Vrabel was the head coach during Williams' six seasons as the Titans defensive line coach/assistant HC, meaning the duo is more than familiar with how the other operates. Chances are that Vrabel wouldn't have made the hire if he didn't believe that the Los Angeles native could handle the pressure and make the correct play calls.
Patriots fans will have a better idea of what a Williams-run defense will look like when Vrabel & Co. hold their first voluntary offseason workouts on Monday, Apr. 7.