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COACHING

Terrell Williams joins New England as defensive coordinator after spending the 2024 season at the Detroit Lions as defensive line coach/run game coordinator.

In 2024, the Lions defense led the NFL in third down defense (32.4 percent), ranked fifth in rushing defense with 98.4 rushing yards allowed per game and 18 rushing touchdowns allowed, seventh in points allowed average (20.1) and seventh in red zone defense (50.9 percent).

Prior to the Lions, Williams spent six seasons at the Tennessee Titans under Mike Vrabel, where he served as the defensive line coach (2018-22) and as assistant head coach/defensive line coach (2023). Over that span, Williams' unit ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed (10,044). In 2022, the Titans had the best rushing defense in the league, allowing just 76.9 rushing yards per game and a 3.4 yards per carry average.

Under Williams' tutelage, DE Denico Autry became the Titans' first player to have three consecutive seasons with 8 or more sacks since Jevon Kearse (1999-2001). He also developed DT Jeffrey Simmons to become a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection while helping DE Jurrell Casey earn his fourth and fifth Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and 2019. In Williams' first season in Tennessee, the Titans defense ranked eighth overall in total defense (333.4 yards per game), third in points allowed (18.9 per game), 10th on third down (36.6 percent) and second in the red zone (44.7 touchdown percentage).

Williams spent three seasons (2015-17) as the defensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins prior to his time in Tennessee. During those three seasons, DE Cameron Wake ranked eighth in the NFL in sacks (29), and All-Pro DT Ndamukong Suh had the eighth-most sacks among defensive tackles with 151/2. Both were named to the Pro Bowl in 2016, the year the Dolphins earned their first playoff berth since 2008. Wake finished the season ranked third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL with 111/2 sacks.

In Williams' first season with Miami in 2015, Williams played a major role in the Dolphins becoming one of just four teams in the league to have three players with at least 6 sacks: Wake (7.0), Suh (6.0) and DE Olivier Vernon with 71/2.

Williams began coaching in the NFL in 2012 as the defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders (2012-14). The Raiders were eighth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per play (3.97) in 2014.

Prior to entering the NFL, Williams spent 14 seasons coaching the defensive line at the collegiate level. He spent time at Texas A&M (2010-11), helping the team win its first Big 12 championship in 2010. The next year, Williams helped the Aggies lead the nation in sacks with 51 and finish third nationally with an average of 8 tackles for loss per game.

While at Purdue (2006-09), Williams worked closely with First-Team All-American and future NFL first-round pick DL Anthony Spencer, who led the NCAA in tackles for loss. In his of second of two seasons at Akron (2004-05), Williams also helped guide the team to its first Mid-American Conference Championship and bowl game appearance. Williams also coached at Youngstown State (2002-03), North Carolina A&T (1999-2001) and Fort Scott (1998). Throughout his time in the collegiate ranks, Williams also worked summer internships in the NFL: Jacksonville Jaguars (1999), Seattle Seahawks (2007) and Dallas Cowboys (2008).

PLAYING

Williams transferred to East Carolina from West Los Angeles College and played nose guard for the Pirates. He helped the team to a victory over Stanford in the 1995 Liberty Bowl.

PERSONAL

Williams is a native of Los Angeles, Calif., and earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in history from East Carolina.

He and his wife, Tifini, have two sons, Tahj and Tyson, who passed away in 2012.