Feb. 13, 2026, 1:42 p.m. ET
Zak Kuhr is the leading candidate to be the New England Patriots’ next defensive coordinator.
Kuhr filled in for Patriots’ defensive coordinator Terrell Williams for most of the 2025 regular season due to Williams being diagnosed with prostate cancer. New England advanced to Super Bowl LX with Kuhr as the play-caller of the defense. The Patriots’ defense held their first three playoff opponents to a combined 26 points scored. In the regular season, New England ranked No. 4 in the NFL in points allowed to opponents with 320.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kuhr is the frontman for the Patriots’ vacant DC position.
“All he [Kuhr] did was call a Super Bowl-participating defense. Really did an incredible job. They’re gonna do some interviews. My understanding is, he is the leading candidate, which I would add, very, very leading candidate,” Rapoport said of the Patriots’ favoring Kuhr in their search process for a new coordinator.
Williams will reportedly be promoted to a high-ranking role on the Patriots’ staff. The California native is cancer-free after receiving his diagnosis on September 26, 2025. Kuhr is the favorite for the New England defensive coordinator position in turn.
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