New England Patriots
Head coach Mike Vrabel broke the good news to players before defeating the Texans in the divisional round two weeks ago.
Terrell Williams will travel with the Patriots for the first time since his diagnosis when the team heads to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
January 30, 2026 | 6:32 PM
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Patriots will have a ‘road warrior’ for Super Bowl LX in defensive coordinator Terrell Williams
The Patriots organization recently received excellent news in the midst of their thrilling playoff run.
Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was declared cancer-free earlier this month, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan. Williams was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in September after coaching New England in Week 1 against the Raiders.
According to Callahan, head coach Mike Vrabel broke the good news to players ahead of the team’s divisional round playoff victory against the Texans two weeks ago. Williams, 51, received the news days before the game.
Williams gave thanks to those who cared for him at Mass General Hospital over the last four months.
“All of the doctors, all of the nurses at Mass General, and everyone that’s taken blood samples, all the people there, they’re so important and good at what they do. I appreciate those guys,” he told Callahan. “And I appreciate this organization and the people of New England. When I say that, I mean it. I’m just shocked at how kind the people are up here. And it’s been unbelievable.
“Hopefully we can bring a smile to their faces on Sunday.”
Vrabel told reporters Thursday that Williams would be traveling with the Patriots to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. His cancer-free diagnosis had not yet been revealed to the public.
Williams told Callahan that the cancer had spread to different parts of his body by the time he was diagnosed. Upon his visit to an urgent care facility, he was told he had a stomach virus based on the flu-like symptoms he reported.
“It had spread all through my body: up in my collarbone, hips, groin, through my legs. It was all over, and it was super aggressive,” Williams said. “And that’s why they thought it was something else.”
Williams said he underwent five rounds of chemotherapy, one every three weeks. His body responded well to treatment, and the cancer started clearing within a few months.
Despite not having traveled with the team yet this season, Williams had been regularly visiting the facility and attending meetings, even while receiving chemo. All season long, players have said they’ve had him in mind each week, especially during every regular season and playoff win.
Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson spoke Friday about his and the entire team’s will to win next Sunday, specifically for Williams.
“He’s been with us all the way through, and we been with him all the way through,” Chaisson said on “Up and Adams.” “His presence and truly what he means to this team will never go unnoticed or unacknowledged, for sure. Super thankful to him, man. Definitely everything we’re doing toward this game and we’re putting toward preparation, we have with him in mind, for sure.”
Chaisson said Williams was “always” in the building in Foxborough this season, and players made sure to keep in touch when they were on the road.
“We definitely get a chance to chat with him on the side. We’ll call and text him to let him know we’re always with him. We always see him. We see him around the building. We make sure that he feels involved,” Chaisson said. “We’re gonna play for [Terrell], and give everything we got to make sure that we know that we truly appreciate everything he’s done for us, for sure.”
Kaley Brown
Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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