Before he took the job as the Detroit Lions' defensive line coach in 2024, Terrell Williams was among the most respected coaches at his position in the NFL.
Williams really started getting his due nationally during his six seasons with the Titans, where he started as defensive line coach but eventually added assistant head coach to his title. He also got a chance to be the head coach in a preseason game.
Tennessee sported the best run defense in the NFL over a two-year span under his watch, largely because of the defensive line. Of course, Williams played a big role in the development of guys like Teair Tart, a former UDFA who became a starter and impact run defender, and Jeffery Simmons, who is among the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
"I respect Coach T so much, and it's not just about the game of football," Simmons said of Williams in 2023. "You have to be able to connect with your players. Coach T is a helluva coach, a smart coach. I fully expect him to be a head coach in this league eventually."
If you need more evidence for just how good Williams is at his job, check out this praise from head coach Dan Campbell.
"I think he's the best D-line coach in the league," Campbell said, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. "And if he's not you can argue what place he is."
Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn also heaped praise on Williams.
"The technique, the way he goes about coaching, he's very confident in his intelligence about the position," Glenn said. "I've been around a couple good ones. Ryan Nielson, who is actually the coordinator in Jacksonville, I've been around him for a while and they are comparable as far as knowledge as far as defense. And (Williams) believes exactly what I believe in when it comes to D-line play, so that's a good thing."
Williams will have a talented unit to work with in 2024 that is already good against the run but needs to improve in the pass-rush. If anyone can get the most out of the unit, it's Coach T.
