Report: Terrell Williams will join Detroit Lions as DL coach and run game coordinator
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has reported that the Detroit Lions are adding a new coach to their staff.
According to a report by Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Detroit Lions are adding coach Terrell Williams to their staff as the defensive line coach and coordinator of the team’s run game.
Three years after finishing his playing career at East Carolina as a defensive lineman in 1995, Williams entered the coaching field. Before joining the Raiders in 2012, he upgraded schools many times throughout his collegiate coaching career, going from Youngstown State (MVC) to Akron (MAC), Purdue (Big Ten), and Texas A&M (SEC).
Williams first worked with current Lions coach Dan Campbell, who was the Dolphins’ interim coach, in 2015 when he was hired as the defensive line coach by the Miami Dolphins. Williams’ next stop was the Tennessee Titans, when he was appointed as their defensive line coach before gaining the position as assistant head coach.
Williams has a lengthy resume of elite athletes that he developed, including many Pro Bowl players. Ryan Kerrigan, Cliff Avril, Kawaan Short, and Anthony Spencer were all developed by him at Purdue. Von Miller studied at Texas A&M under his guidance. Williams taught Cameron Wake throughout his professional years. Under Williams’ tutelage, Jeffrey Simmons and Jurrell Casey both thrived in Tennessee.
Williams’ defensive line helped the Titans have the NFL’s best run defense in 2022—undoubtedly the impetus for his role as run game coordinator—while the Lions gave up the second-fewest rushing yards in 2023.
Although John Scott Jr., the defensive line coach, is already employed by the Lions, it’s important to note that there hasn’t been any news of his changing positions as of yet. Although Russini reports Williams will have the same title as Scott, the Lions may just be rearranging the staff’s responsibilities, something they do every summer.
