Report: Lions hire new DL coach, run game coordinator, Terrell Williams

Dan Campbell makes first hire of offseason.

According to The Athletic, Detroit is hiring Terrell Williams as their run game coordinator and defensive line coach.

It’s unclear how this affects John Scott Jr., the Lions’ defensive line coach this season.

Williams was most recently the defensive line coach and assistant head coach for the Tennessee Titans. He is the head coach of the American team in this week’s Senior Bowl.

Williams had been with the Titans for the past six years. He was also elevated to Assistant Head Coach before this season.

Mike Vrabel, former Titans head coach, praised Williams after the announcement of his promotion.

“You know how I feel about Terrell and what he’s meant to our program since I’ve been here,”

                                         Report: Lions hire new DL coach, run game coordinator, Terrell Williams

“His consistency on and off the football field, as well as the relationships and connections he’s developed with each defensive linemen.

“So, yes, I was able — and deservedly so — to name him assistant head coach for defense, because that is what he is.

I watch the players, whether they are offensive or defensive players outside of their position, and they either find ‘Big T’ or he finds them. He’s an invaluable element of our team, and we’re fortunate to have him.”

Vrabel made Williams the Titans’ acting head coach for their 2023 preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. Under his tutelage, the Titans have developed a star in defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.

He served three seasons as a defensive line coach with the Miami Dolphins before joining Tennessee. His debut season with Miami, in 2015, coincided with Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s final year. Campbell worked with the organization from 2011 to 2015 as the tight ends coach.

Campbell served as interim head coach for the Miami Dolphins for 12 games after Joe Philbin was fired. He began his NFL career by joining the Raiders’ staff in 2012.

Prior to his NFL debut, he played 14 seasons in college. His coaching career began at Fort Scott Community College and included stops at North Carolina A&T, Youngstown State, Akron, Purdue, and Texas A&M.

He coached several potential NFL players at the university level, including Ryan Kerrigan and former Lion Cliff Avril at Purdue and Von Miller at Texas A&M.

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