Every week, Terrell Williams sits in the back of a room he used to command.

Players file into the Patriots’ defensive meetings and slide into the rows of seats before him. Snippets of their conversations echo off the windowless walls. His replacement stands at the front of the room and quiets the audience before kicking off another presentation.

Williams listens.

Zak Kuhr has led the Patriots’ defense for weeks now, a former offensive assistant turned interim defensive coordinator. Kuhr’s resume, which shows he’s only coached defense for five years, suggests he’s not ready for the job. But over six weeks, the unit has improved.

This makes Williams happy. Seeing Williams does the same for everyone around him.

“It’s inspiring to see somebody who’s going through a battle right now, fight

See Full Page