May 9, 2025 • 14 mins
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams addresses the media on Friday, May 9, 2025.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, So, as you guys know from Mike's press conference today,
you know, I had I had a health scare. But
I also want to make it clear that I'm not
I'm not I'm away from the building, but I'm not
away from the team. So I'm I'm doing good. I'm
(00:20):
not away from the football team. But yeah, and I
came back home here to Detroit and for spring break
and had had a little medical scare. I mean, it
wasn't a little medical scare. It was a medical scare.
And you know, since then, per doctor's orders, I've kind
(00:42):
of stayed here, stayed here in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And been handling that.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And you know, I want to while while I'm talking
about it, I want to talk about the seriousness of
taking care of our health and and loving the people
you love. Because when something traumatic happens like that, and
it was traumatic for me, it gave me an opportunity
to reflect and and and you know, really look back
(01:12):
and at the people I care about, and that makes
a difference in my life. And I was able to
do that. And and also it gave me a reminder
that sometimes as coaches, as media folks and athletes and
doctors and whoever, we think were invincible and you're not.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Like I'm just telling you you're not.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And so this was a good wake up call for me,
and it was a good wake up call for my
close friends and people I know in the profession and
around the league and.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And just in general. So it was good.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And I also want to take this opportunity to to
really thank the the doctors, the nurses, the therapists, the
people that I've worked with here in Detroit. They've done
an amazing job helping me kind of get through this.
And really want to thank the New England Patriots Organization,
(02:17):
but in particular Stretch and Mike Vrabel. You know, Vrabs
has been unbelievable. I mean I talked to him at
least once a day, I mean, and and he's he's
been unbelievable, unbelievably supportive and in everything that we're doing.
And we, like I said, we communicate every day. I
(02:40):
want to thank the defensive staff really, all of them,
from Book Jayham to Smitten, all all the defensive coaches
and the coaching staff in general.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
And Zach Kerr has.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Done an unbelievable job while I've been away, and we've
communicated daily on.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
You know, just the things that need to get done.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
And and I've also been in communication with the players often,
so it's been good for me. But again, I'm not away.
I'm not off the football team. I'm just I'm working
remotely right now, and hopefully I'll be able to to
get back soon and and and and just be in
(03:26):
the building and be around everyone. But you know, it's
been it's been a it's been an eye opener for
me and my wife Tiffany, and my son. They've been
unbelievable and supportive and doing everything that we need to
do here to get myself right. But I mean, I'm
(03:47):
not you guys can see me. I'm okay. You know,
I'm I'm you know, I think when people from from
that press conference today, I got about three hundred text
messages like I was laying on my death but I'm
doing okay. Like everybody, I was trying to tell tell
guys and messages get out and hey, I heard this happen.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I heard it, like, no.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Need to speculate, you know, I don't want to get
into specifics right now because they'll there'll be a time
where I'll talk about it. But I just wanted to
get the opportunity to get on with you before with
you guys, before the speculation goes every which way. I'll
just say right now that I'm doing okay, and I
(04:32):
appreciate all the you know, the the prayers and whatever
it is from everybody. And with that, I'll take any
questions that you guys.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
May have and we'll start with the Mike Reese followed
by Dan Roach.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Right, Thanks, Stacey and Terrell. I'm glad you're doing well,
most of all with the health. Nothing's more important than
our health. Can you maybe just provide us a prognosis
on your health and also the time frame, like how
when did this happen that that would maybe help as well.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, so it happened around the time I was home
for spring break.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
That's when when this whole thing happened.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And you know, as far as what exactly happened, there's
no reason right now today to talk about it exactly.
The only thing I'll tell you, Mike is that I'm
doing better and the doctors. I'm doing everything that the
doctors are telling me. And you know, that's about the
(05:40):
only prognosis I can give you. I mean, hell, we
don't I don't even use that word prognosis. That sounds
like a doctor's word to me. But I'm doing okay
like you if you, I know you don't really know me,
but trust me like I'm doing fine. I got my smile,
I'm I'm I'm doing just just just well.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Dan roach, followed by Bob's HOSEI.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
Hi, tell glad to hear that you're doing better, which
is great. Since this happened, what has been your daily
routine been like it?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Also?
Speaker 5 (06:16):
You kind of touched upon it. How much better a coach?
How much better a husband?
Speaker 2 (06:21):
A dad?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Do you think you'll be now that you seem like
you've got this new perspective after what you've gone through.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I think, you know, anytime you have life changing events,
I don't want to compare this to anything, but I
think since I've been in this league, I've had really
two life changing events that made me reflect and think
(06:47):
about everything. When I was with the Raiders, I lost
my son in twenty twelve. That was a that was
of course for any of us that have children. I mean,
that was a a big event right there that we've
had to deal with.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And then this.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Only only because again you you think you're invincible you
feel like everything's going well and nothing can happen to me.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You know, I'm Torell Williams. Everybody calls me T A T.
You're all right, oh T, You're good, good, good T.
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But I mean, when things like this happened, you you
realize that, hey, we got to slow down a little.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Bit and take care of our health.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And I think that for the people that really know me,
this has touched.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
A lot of a lot of lives.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
And again I don't want to get into the specifics
because I just I mean, if you guys can respect
that privacy for me, I would appreciate it. The thing
I'll tell you is that my daily routine has been community.
I get a text message from Rabes about five am.
(08:01):
It seems like every morning, just checking in seeing how
everything's going.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's just how he operates. But I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And and and then I kind of get it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Do a little football, do do my you know, my
rehab if you will, and just kind of take care
of the things I didn't need to take care of.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And and you know, I want to say this again
that that Mike Rabel, you guys think you know him
like you think you know him, but you know the
football coach. I know the person and that that person,
(08:46):
that person means a lot to me with what he's
been and and long before this has happened, he means
a lot to me, is all I'll say.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
So you fall about Ian Steel, Bob, we can't hear you, Bob,
we can't hear you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Can year me.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Barely.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Okay, Oh Bob, you got to turn that volume up.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Man, I can't. We can't.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
We'll go Ian Steele and Doug Kaide and if we
have time, we'll come back.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Bob. Hey, Terrell, hope you hope you're feeling okay today? Yeah, Yeah,
I'm feeling Okayye. Thanks good good? Uh, if you don't mind, Terrell.
How old are you?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
I'm fifty. I'll be fifty one next month, June nineteenth.
If you want to send some birthday gifts to the facility.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
We'll get that word out. We'll get the word out.
But relatively young to have a major health scare, regardless
of what it is. So moving forward, I suppose you
know what do you hope people who you know I'm
in my thirties, there's kids who watch this team, like,
what do you hope they take from a fifty year
old football coach who's been around the league for so long,
(10:16):
you know, hearing your message today.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I think that the thing I would like to you know,
everybody is different. We all have different stress levels where
you know, football is a is a job that obviously
there's some stress involved. But but just just eat and
right working out, doing the things that you know, if
(10:43):
you're supposed to take any kind of medication, and take it.
And you know, again, I think sometimes, as like I
told the players, I mean, we we all think we're invincible.
We all think we're gonna live forever. We all think
that this can happen to us. And when I say this,
I mean anything, you know, uh, car wreck, uh.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Whatever, you We think it can't happen to us, but
it can.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
And I think that a lot of times when there's
things that you can prevent and you don't prevent them,
well that's just that's just not being smart.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And that's what I've done.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Over the the you know, the last couple of years
or even longer.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It's just I've ignored doctors, I've ignored.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Everyone and just kind of lived my life, you know,
And while it was fun, I realized that you know
what you gotta you gotta take care of yourself, man,
and that's what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So really, that's what.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I hope that that we can all gather and and
like I said, I'm I mean where I am now,
like I'm my mind is clear, my you know, I'm good,
and you know I'm moving around.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
I'm happy, you know, every every everything's good.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I just I'm just looking forward to getting back to
to Foxborough and and seeing everybody in person.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
We'll go Doug Kaid next, got Joelle, thanks for joining
us today. What can you tell us about Zach Kerr and.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
What kind of hands is the defense in right now?
In your absence?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, Zach, Zach's unbelievable, Like he's an unbelievably smart guy.
You know. I remember when we hired a in Tennessee.
It seems like Graves always put the new guys with me.
So he was he was coming I think from Texas
State or somewhere in college and maybe Texas, and he
(12:53):
stuck him in there. He had been on offense and
he stuck him in there with me on the defensive line.
It was like my everybody, he was dumped in there.
With me, and but you know what I've grown, I've
grown to respect him in a short amount of time.
I mean we were together really for I think five
(13:13):
of those or four of those years in Tennessee, and
I got the utmost respect.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I think he's going to be a superstar in this league.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Smart, and more than anything, I think that he has
the ability to connect with players.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And really that's all of our staff.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
It's been Zach, it's been Book, It's been Jay Ham,
has been Clinton, who was also with me on the
defensive line in in Tennessee. So so really, I think
the defense is in good, good hands.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Real I promised you at ten minute press availability. It's
already been fifteen, so I'm going to go ahead and
cut it off there. Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Thank you guys, appreciate it. Thanks everyone to help, good luck.
Thanks Stacy,
Yeah, So, as you guys know from Mike's press conference today,
you know, I had I had a health scare. But
I also want to make it clear that I'm not
I'm not I'm away from the building, but I'm not
away from the team. So I'm I'm doing good. I'm
(00:20):
not away from the football team. But yeah, and I
came back home here to Detroit and for spring break
and had had a little medical scare. I mean, it
wasn't a little medical scare. It was a medical scare.
And you know, since then, per doctor's orders, I've kind
(00:42):
of stayed here, stayed here in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
And been handling that.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
And you know, I want to while while I'm talking
about it, I want to talk about the seriousness of
taking care of our health and and loving the people
you love. Because when something traumatic happens like that, and
it was traumatic for me, it gave me an opportunity
to reflect and and and you know, really look back
(01:12):
and at the people I care about, and that makes
a difference in my life. And I was able to
do that. And and also it gave me a reminder
that sometimes as coaches, as media folks and athletes and
doctors and whoever, we think were invincible and you're not.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Like I'm just telling you you're not.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And so this was a good wake up call for me,
and it was a good wake up call for my
close friends and people I know in the profession and
around the league and.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
And just in general. So it was good.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
And I also want to take this opportunity to to
really thank the the doctors, the nurses, the therapists, the
people that I've worked with here in Detroit. They've done
an amazing job helping me kind of get through this.
And really want to thank the New England Patriots Organization,
(02:17):
but in particular Stretch and Mike Vrabel. You know, Vrabs
has been unbelievable. I mean I talked to him at
least once a day, I mean, and and he's he's
been unbelievable, unbelievably supportive and in everything that we're doing.
And we, like I said, we communicate every day. I
(02:40):
want to thank the defensive staff really, all of them,
from Book Jayham to Smitten, all all the defensive coaches
and the coaching staff in general.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
And Zach Kerr has.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Done an unbelievable job while I've been away, and we've
communicated daily on.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
You know, just the things that need to get done.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
And and I've also been in communication with the players often,
so it's been good for me. But again, I'm not away.
I'm not off the football team. I'm just I'm working
remotely right now, and hopefully I'll be able to to
get back soon and and and and just be in
(03:26):
the building and be around everyone. But you know, it's
been it's been a it's been an eye opener for
me and my wife Tiffany, and my son. They've been
unbelievable and supportive and doing everything that we need to
do here to get myself right. But I mean, I'm
(03:47):
not you guys can see me. I'm okay. You know,
I'm I'm you know, I think when people from from
that press conference today, I got about three hundred text
messages like I was laying on my death but I'm
doing okay. Like everybody, I was trying to tell tell
guys and messages get out and hey, I heard this happen.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I heard it, like, no.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Need to speculate, you know, I don't want to get
into specifics right now because they'll there'll be a time
where I'll talk about it. But I just wanted to
get the opportunity to get on with you before with
you guys, before the speculation goes every which way. I'll
just say right now that I'm doing okay, and I
(04:32):
appreciate all the you know, the the prayers and whatever
it is from everybody. And with that, I'll take any
questions that you guys.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
May have and we'll start with the Mike Reese followed
by Dan Roach.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Right, Thanks, Stacey and Terrell. I'm glad you're doing well,
most of all with the health. Nothing's more important than
our health. Can you maybe just provide us a prognosis
on your health and also the time frame, like how
when did this happen that that would maybe help as well.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Yeah, so it happened around the time I was home
for spring break.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
That's when when this whole thing happened.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And you know, as far as what exactly happened, there's
no reason right now today to talk about it exactly.
The only thing I'll tell you, Mike is that I'm
doing better and the doctors. I'm doing everything that the
doctors are telling me. And you know, that's about the
(05:40):
only prognosis I can give you. I mean, hell, we
don't I don't even use that word prognosis. That sounds
like a doctor's word to me. But I'm doing okay
like you if you, I know you don't really know me,
but trust me like I'm doing fine. I got my smile,
I'm I'm I'm doing just just just well.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Dan roach, followed by Bob's HOSEI.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
Hi, tell glad to hear that you're doing better, which
is great. Since this happened, what has been your daily
routine been like it?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Also?
Speaker 5 (06:16):
You kind of touched upon it. How much better a coach?
How much better a husband?
Speaker 2 (06:21):
A dad?
Speaker 5 (06:21):
Do you think you'll be now that you seem like
you've got this new perspective after what you've gone through.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I think, you know, anytime you have life changing events,
I don't want to compare this to anything, but I
think since I've been in this league, I've had really
two life changing events that made me reflect and think
(06:47):
about everything. When I was with the Raiders, I lost
my son in twenty twelve. That was a that was
of course for any of us that have children. I mean,
that was a a big event right there that we've
had to deal with.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And then this.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Only only because again you you think you're invincible you
feel like everything's going well and nothing can happen to me.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You know, I'm Torell Williams. Everybody calls me T A T.
You're all right, oh T, You're good, good, good T.
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But I mean, when things like this happened, you you
realize that, hey, we got to slow down a little.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Bit and take care of our health.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And I think that for the people that really know me,
this has touched.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
A lot of a lot of lives.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
And again I don't want to get into the specifics
because I just I mean, if you guys can respect
that privacy for me, I would appreciate it. The thing
I'll tell you is that my daily routine has been community.
I get a text message from Rabes about five am.
(08:01):
It seems like every morning, just checking in seeing how
everything's going.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
That's just how he operates. But I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
And and and then I kind of get it.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Do a little football, do do my you know, my
rehab if you will, and just kind of take care
of the things I didn't need to take care of.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And and you know, I want to say this again
that that Mike Rabel, you guys think you know him
like you think you know him, but you know the
football coach. I know the person and that that person,
(08:46):
that person means a lot to me with what he's
been and and long before this has happened, he means
a lot to me, is all I'll say.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
So you fall about Ian Steel, Bob, we can't hear you, Bob,
we can't hear you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Can year me.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Barely.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Okay, Oh Bob, you got to turn that volume up.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Man, I can't. We can't.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
We'll go Ian Steele and Doug Kaide and if we
have time, we'll come back.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Bob. Hey, Terrell, hope you hope you're feeling okay today? Yeah, Yeah,
I'm feeling Okayye. Thanks good good? Uh, if you don't mind, Terrell.
How old are you?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
I'm fifty. I'll be fifty one next month, June nineteenth.
If you want to send some birthday gifts to the facility.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
We'll get that word out. We'll get the word out.
But relatively young to have a major health scare, regardless
of what it is. So moving forward, I suppose you
know what do you hope people who you know I'm
in my thirties, there's kids who watch this team, like,
what do you hope they take from a fifty year
old football coach who's been around the league for so long,
(10:16):
you know, hearing your message today.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
I think that the thing I would like to you know,
everybody is different. We all have different stress levels where
you know, football is a is a job that obviously
there's some stress involved. But but just just eat and
right working out, doing the things that you know, if
(10:43):
you're supposed to take any kind of medication, and take it.
And you know, again, I think sometimes, as like I
told the players, I mean, we we all think we're invincible.
We all think we're gonna live forever. We all think
that this can happen to us. And when I say this,
I mean anything, you know, uh, car wreck, uh.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Whatever, you We think it can't happen to us, but
it can.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
And I think that a lot of times when there's
things that you can prevent and you don't prevent them,
well that's just that's just not being smart.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
And that's what I've done.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Over the the you know, the last couple of years
or even longer.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It's just I've ignored doctors, I've ignored.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Everyone and just kind of lived my life, you know,
And while it was fun, I realized that you know
what you gotta you gotta take care of yourself, man,
and that's what I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
So really, that's what.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
I hope that that we can all gather and and
like I said, I'm I mean where I am now,
like I'm my mind is clear, my you know, I'm good,
and you know I'm moving around.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
I'm happy, you know, every every everything's good.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
I just I'm just looking forward to getting back to
to Foxborough and and seeing everybody in person.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
We'll go Doug Kaid next, got Joelle, thanks for joining
us today. What can you tell us about Zach Kerr and.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
What kind of hands is the defense in right now?
In your absence?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Yeah, Zach, Zach's unbelievable, Like he's an unbelievably smart guy.
You know. I remember when we hired a in Tennessee.
It seems like Graves always put the new guys with me.
So he was he was coming I think from Texas
State or somewhere in college and maybe Texas, and he
(12:53):
stuck him in there. He had been on offense and
he stuck him in there with me on the defensive line.
It was like my everybody, he was dumped in there.
With me, and but you know what I've grown, I've
grown to respect him in a short amount of time.
I mean we were together really for I think five
(13:13):
of those or four of those years in Tennessee, and
I got the utmost respect.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I think he's going to be a superstar in this league.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Smart, and more than anything, I think that he has
the ability to connect with players.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And really that's all of our staff.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
It's been Zach, it's been Book, It's been Jay Ham,
has been Clinton, who was also with me on the
defensive line in in Tennessee. So so really, I think
the defense is in good, good hands.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Real I promised you at ten minute press availability. It's
already been fifteen, so I'm going to go ahead and
cut it off there. Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Thank you guys, appreciate it. Thanks everyone to help, good luck.
Thanks Stacy,
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