in

Meet Zak Kuhr, the Patriots ‘mastermind’ who’s earned Mike Vrabel’s trust — twice

meet-zak-kuhr,-the-patriots-‘mastermind’-who’s-earned-mike-vrabel’s-trust-—-twice
Meet Zak Kuhr, the Patriots ‘mastermind’ who’s earned Mike Vrabel’s trust — twice
New England Patriots fill-in defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr at practice on September 24, 2025.
New England Patriots fill-in defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr at practice on September 24, 2025. Boston Globe via Getty Images

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Zak Kuhr might be the unlikeliest defensive play-caller in Super Bowl history.

Not only because he was coaching running backs at Rutgers just 10 years ago. Or because his only coordinator experience prior to this season was on offense — at James Madison and Texas State. Or because he was the Giants assistant linebackers coach just last season.

But also because he was thrown into calling plays for the Patriots in Week 2 under emotional circumstances — when defensive coordinator Terrell Williams stepped away from the team to recover from prostate cancer.

“The one thing I wanted to do … in this role of working with every [player] was earn their trust,” Kuhr told The Post. “I wanted to let them know all I care about is their success. Anything I had to do to prove that, whether it was work ethic or conversations with those guys, that was the most important thing.”

Leave a Reply

olympic-rule-changes-aim-to-end-2026-games’-‘penis-gate’-problem

Olympic rule changes aim to end 2026 Games’ ‘penis-gate’ problem

isiah-kiner-falefa-signing-one-year-contract-with-red-sox-to-join-another-al-east-team

Isiah Kiner-Falefa signing one-year contract with Red Sox to join another AL East team