For the first time since 2023, the New England Patriots are entering an offseason with stability at the head coaching position. Mike Vrabel, arrived in Foxborough last offseason, will be back with the organization after leading it to a 14-3 record and Super Bowl berth.
But while Vrabel will not be going anywhere anytime soon, his staff is set to experience some turnover. Not every assistant will be back for the 2026 season, while some internal reshuffling is in the cards as well.
In order to not get lost amid the news and rumors, we set up this up-to-date Patriots Coaching Staff tracker.
B.J. Edmonds (TBD): A former cornerback at Arkansas State, Edmonds served as a defensive graduate assistant at Kansas Wesleyan and Utah State before a two-year stint as a defensive assistant at Duke. In January, he was hired to coach running backs at Southern Miss but just a month later is headed to the NFL and the Patriots’ staff in an as-of-yet undisclosed role. | News
Patriots coaching departures
Robert Kugler (assistant offensive line coach): One of the few holdovers from the 2024 to the 2025 coaching staffs, Kugler served as assistant O-line coach under both Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel. His work caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who hired him as tight ends coach under their new regime. | News
Milton Patterson (defensive assistant): An experienced college coach who spent several seasons in various roles at Florida A&M, Patterson arrived in New England last offseason to work as a defensive assistant. His stint on the Patriots’ staff lasted only one season, though. | News
Patriots internal changes
Terrell Williams (TBD): Williams was hired as Patriots defensive coordinator last year, but he struggled with medical issues for much of 2025. After having to work remotely for much of the offseason following an undisclosed “health scare” he was able to serve in his role for only one game: Williams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September and subsequently left the team. He has since been declared cancer free but will not resume his role as DC. Instead, he has been moved to a “high-ranking role” on Mike Vrabel’s staff. | News | Analysis
Zak Kuhr (promoted to defensive coordinator): Another offseason addition under Mike Vrabel in 2025, Kuhr stepped up in light of Terrell Williams’ medical episodes. He served as his on-the-ground replacement in the offseason and later was chosen as defensive play caller during the season. Kuhr did an admirable job and as a consequence was promoted from his inside linebackers coaching job to full-time DC. | News | Analysis
Vinny DePalma (promoted to inside linebackers coach): Formerly a linebacker at Boston College, DePalma came to the Patriots during the 2024 offseason. He spent the next two seasons as a defensive assistant working primarily with the linebacker position, and his promotion to inside linebackers coach was therefore only natural. | News | Analysis
Patriots interview tracker
Ephraim Banda (for defensive coordinator): Banda started his coaching career at the college level before making the move to the NFL as the Browns’ safety coach in 2023. Despite Cleveland struggling to play winning football particularly the last two years, the team’s defense — including his position group — kept playing at a fairly high level. As a consequence of this and the organization making a change at head coach and defensive coordinator this offseason, Banda has started receiving some interest from other clubs. | News
Patriots coaching staff tracker
Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda was among the coaches interviewed for New England’s defensive coordinator role. | Source
Southern Miss running backs coach B.J. Edmonds has been hired by the Patriots in an undisclosed role. | Source
Defensive assistant Milton Patterson will not be back with the Patriots in 2026. | Source
With Zak Kuhr moving up the ranks, so does Vinny DePalma: New England’s defensive assistant is expected to take over as the Patriots’ new inside linebackers coach. | Source
Zak Kuhr, who called defensive plays for a majority of the 2025 season, has been promoted to the Patriots’ defensive coordinator role. | Source
A young up-and-comer in NFL coaching ranks, quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant will not be going anywhere this offseason. | Source
The Patriots have decided to promote defensive coordinator Terrell Williams to a “high-ranking” role on their coaching staff. | Source
Robert Kugler, who served as an offensive line assistant for the Patriots in 2024 and 2025, is headed to the Steelers. He will serve as Pittsburgh’s tight ends coach. | Source
Patriots assistant Thomas Brown will not be hired as Cardinals head coach; Arizona has brought in Mike LeFleur to serve in that role. | Source
Mike McDaniel is set to become Chargers offensive coordinator, meaning that Patriots assistant Thomas Brown will not get the job he previously interviewed for. | Source
The Cardinals requested to interview Patriots tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator position. | Source
The Cardinals requested to interview Patriots tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown for their vacant head coaching position. | Source