Feb 13, 2026
3 min read
The humiliating Super Bowl loss was a reminder to the New England Patriots that some improvements are still needed and are far from over at this point.They responded to that call with a significant coaching reshuffle on the defensive side of the ball, a move that redefines the role of a returning veteran and promotes a rising star who has been key to their postseason success.
As Mike Vrabel's true identity is revealed, the Patriots front office makes a major coaching decision
The disappointing Super Bowl loss was a reminder to the New England Patriots that there are always fixes to be made, and they are far from done right now.Rising stars are the key to their postseason success.
"The Patriots are moving defensive coordinator Terrell Williams into a high-level role on the staff, and with me and [Tom Pelissero], Williams is now cancer-free," wrote Ian Rapoport."They have the DC position open, and ILB coach Zak Kuhr, who called the plays during the Super Bowl run, is a leading candidate."
The move comes as no surprise, as Vrabel's confidence in Williams was evident when he first hired him as defensive coordinator.However, Williams missed all but one week of the season as he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Before the Super Bowl, Vrabel himself revealed that Williams was declared cancer-free and cleared to return to coaching duties, but what he didn't do was promise that Williams would return to the role of defensive coordinator.
"There will be a lot of things we have to work on," Vrabel told reporters.
The first appointment was a significant step forward for Williams, who spent most of his career as a defensive lineman coach.He and Vrabel played for the Titans five years ago, from 2018 to 2023, adding assistant head coach titles along the way.
When Williams retired early in the season following his diagnosis, Zach Coor took over the playing field and the results exceeded all expectations.The defense has been the linchpin of the Patriots' playoff run, winning three playoff games, and now that Williams' move has opened up at coordinator, it looks like Kuhr will take over that responsibility full-time.
Kuhr is also no stranger to Vrabel, as the two have combined for five of the last six years between Tennessee and New England.The Patriots finished fourth in the league in points allowed and eight yards allowed, and they gave up just 13.8 points per game during the postseason.
Vrabel always gives more responsibilities to those who prove themselves worthy of them, and that's not the only thing fans have learned about his character since the Super Bowl.
Mike Vrabel explains his feelings after the SB loss
The Super Bowl loss and the way New England played broke the hearts of anyone remotely connected to the Patriots.Mike Vrabel put on a brave face all night, but looked visibly shaken in the second half.After the game, the head coach tried to keep his composure and aimed to keep his players' morale high.
Vrabel said to the players returning to the locker room after the loss, "We are all sorry together.""307 days, that's all. We have a lot of days ahead of us."
Left tackle Will Campbell also had a rough night.He was part of the OL that allowed Drake May to be sacked six times, and Vrabel made sure to pull Campbell aside to let him know there was more football left in his career, and there would be more chances to get a trophy.
Vrabel echoed the rest of the locker room, saying he appreciates their work and that they should stick together in protest.As the last player disappeared from the tunnel, he put his hands on his head and looked heartbroken.
Despite the loss, it's clear how Vrabel's attitude has changed everything for the Patriots, who are coming off a 4-13 season and desperately need a change of mindset.His relationship with the players has been the driving force behind his program since the beginning.
One of his first initiatives as a head coach was what he calls the "4Hs," asking players to be open about their hopes, heartbreaks, history and heroes in an effort to foster a locker room culture and create a deeper experience for the players. Despite the rough finish, the culture is here to stay in New England.
