Patriots Reportedly Promote Zak Kuhr to DC After Super Bowl 60 Loss to Seahawks

The New England Patriots are promoting Zak Kuhr to defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Kuhr was hired to be New England's inside linebackers coach in 2025 but also operated as the defensive play-caller after former defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer and missed the majority of the campaign.

When Williams was "moved to a high-ranking role," per Pelissero, it opened the door for Kuhr to potentially be promoted.

"[Williams is] healthy and been given a release to be back and be back at work," Vrabel told reporters shortly after the Super Bowl when asked if Williams would return to the defensive coordinator gig. "So again, I'll work through all those things here in the next couple days, weeks, however long those decisions may take."

Promoting Kuhr to the full-time gig isn't shocking, however. The Pats were excellent defensively in 2025, finishing fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.8 PPG) and eighth in yards allowed (295.2 YPG).

The 37-year-old was previously with head coach Mike Vrabel between 2020-23 on the Tennessee Titans, moving from quality control coach in his first season to an inside linebacker assistant over the next three years.

In 2024 he served as a defensive assistant on the New York Giants.