Morning Sports Update
Williams was a part of Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Titans.
The Patriots’ choice for defensive coordinator: After the report on Tuesday night that Josh McDaniels will be returning to New England to be the Patriots’ offensive coordinator under newly-appointed head coach Mike Vrabel, the pick for defensive coordinator appears to have emerged on Wednesday morning.
According to multiple sources, the Patriots are hiring Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams to be the defensive coordinator in 2025.
Williams, 50, worked under Vrabel as a defensive assistant during the latter’s tenure as head coach of the Titans. He joined Detroit in 2024 as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator. He also has previous assistant coaching experience with the Raiders and Dolphins (as well as multiple roles at the college level).
Vrabel has confidence in Williams, as shown in 2023 (during their time with Tennessee) when he let the assistant serve as head coach for a preseason game.
Williams represents the latest departure from a talented Lions staff, which helped Detroit compile a 15-2 record in 2024 (though it culminated with a disappointing divisional round playoff defeat). Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has already accpeted the job as head coach of the Bears, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is reportedly a finalist for the Jets vacancy.
Trivia: The Lions are one of several NFL teams that have never managed to get to the Super Bowl. Can you name the others?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Four in total (including the Lions).
Scores and schedules:
The Boston Fleet host the Toronto Sceptres this evening at 7 p.m. at the Tsongas Center.
Elsewhere, the Bruins will be in New Jersey to play the Devils at 7 p.m.
And later tonight, the Celtics will face the Clippers in the Intuit Dome at 10:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
A New England baseball movie: The 2024 film “Eeephus” from Music Box Films is headed for a limited release in March. The film, about a pair of New England Sunday league teams playing a final game at their home field, also features cameos from Joe Castiglione and Bill Lee.
On this day: In 2003, the Red Sox signed a then-lesser known designated hitter/first baseman named David Ortiz. Though it was probably overshadowed that day by the news of the Marlins signing Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, Ortiz proved to be arguably the most important signing in the history of Boston baseball.
Daily highlight: Brazilian winger Raphinha capped a dramatic Barcelona comeback in the Champions League on Tuesday, scoring a late winner in a 5-4 thriller against Benfica.
Trivia answer: Texans, Browns, Jaguars
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