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COACHING

Zak Kuhr joins the Patriots in 2025 as inside linebackers coach. He comes to New England after spending four seasons (2020-23) in various roles under head coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans. Most recently, Kuhr served as a defensive assistant with the New York Giants last season.

As a defensive assistant with the New York Giants in 2024, Kuhr oversaw a group that finished eighth in opponent passing yards allowed (210.6 yards per game). In addition, he was part of a group finished in the top half of the league in defensive red zone touchdown rate (53.7%).

In 2023 with the Titans as an inside linebackers assistant, Kuhr coached LB Azeez Al-Shaair, who played greater than 97% of the team's snaps, leading the team with 163 total tackles, ranking fifth in the NFL. Kuhr's group also finished in the top half of the league in rush defense, allowing 107.7 yards on the ground per game.

In 2022, the Titans ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense (76.9 opponent rushing yards per game) with Kuhr as inside linebackers assistant. Kuhr saw five different players start multiple games at inside linebacker: Zach Cunningham, David Long Jr., Dylan Cole, Monty Rice and rookie Jack Gibbens. Long Jr. started 12 games and recorded 86 total tackle s, with both categories marking career highs for Long Jr.

The Titans saw four contributing inside linebackers in 2021 with Kuhr overseeing the group: Rashaan Evans, Jayvon Brown, Long Jr. and Cunningham. The group registered a total of 212 tackles and five interceptions. After being claimed off waivers from Houston late in the season, Cunningham started the final four games of the regular season and led the defense over that stretch with 25 tackles. Cunningham also recorded 10 tackles in the team's divisional playoff contest.

Prior to joining the Titans, Kuhr spent one season as an assistant coach for head coach Tom Herman at Texas in 2019.The Longhorns finished with an 8-5 record, including a win in the Valero Alamo Bowl.

From 2017-18, Kuhr served a variety of offensive roles under head coach Everett Withers at Texas State. In his first year, Kuhr was the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach, overseeing a trio of Anthony Taylor, Anthony Smith and Robert Brown Jr. that combined for over 1,200 yards and five touchdowns. He was later promoted to associate head coach for the 2018 season.

Before his tenure at Texas State, Kuhr spent one season at Rutgers coaching running backs in 2016. His offensive prowess began at James Madison, where he served as a running backs coach in 2014 before being promoted to co-offensive coordinator the following season. Under Kuhr's direction, the Dukes led the nation in third down efficiency (54%) while ranking second in scoring offense (44.3 points per game) and third in total offense (528.8 yards per game).

Kuhr began his collegiate coaching career as an intern under Urban Meyer at Ohio State for two seasons (2011-12). He mentored running back Carlos Hyde, who went on to earn All-American honors. In addition, it was at Ohio State where Kuhr first worked with Mike Vrabel, who was an assistant for the Buckeyes at the time.

PERSONAL

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Kuhr launched his coaching career in his hometown at a young age, working as an assistant coach at Mandarin High School and Westside High School, where he served as offensive coordinator. Kuhr went on to spend two seasons (2009-10) as special teams coordinator at Edward Waters College. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in sports management.