New England Patriots
“I know Coach T liked that one.”
FOXBOROUGH – The phrase “T Strong” was etched in blue lettering against a background with the Patriots‘ logo placed above it and a ribbon replacing the “o” in strong.
The Patriots wore the phrase across their chests during pregame warmups, sporting the shirts to send a message of support to defensive coordinator Terrell Williams who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The phrase flashed on the jumbotron during the first quarter with a message to Williams written in big, bold letters for all to see.
“We send out support to our defensive coordinator Terrell Willliams in his fight against cancer,” the screen read.
New England dominated Carolina in the team’s first game since coach Mike Vrabel announced the news of Williams’s diagnosis last week. After the 42-13 win, Vrabel chose his words carefully when asked what it meant to get such a resounding victory while Williams was out fighting the disease.
“I don’t think that those things are really comparable,” Vrabel said. “We’ve got one situation where somebody is fighting and we’re playing a game. We care deeply about Terrell, and we’re going to do everything that we can to help him and to support him and make sure that he gets what he needs and competes and fights and that we take care of him as people and support.
That’s the big thing there.
“The other side of it is just the game,” Vrabel added. “We understand how critical the wins and losses end, and we’re here to win. But I don’t look at it like, oh, we have to win because this is a crucial catch. We just have to win so that we can continue to build a program that can stand, that can withstand everything that goes on in this league.”
Williams, who earned his first shot as an NFL defensive coordinator this season after spending nearly three decades as a defensive line coach in the college and pro ranks, is facing a cancer diagnosis right at the beginning of his time with the Patriots.
Although he missed a significant amount of time during the spring due to an unrelated health scare, Williams was a big part of the Patriots’ plans heading into the season. He has taken time away from the team, with inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr taking over defensive play-calling duties in the interim.
Williams will be around the team, Vrabel said, but it’s unclear what his role will be in the immediate future. His absence has been on the players’ minds, defensive lineman Milton Williams said.
“I know Big T — we’re all praying for him, and how much everybody in the building loves him just for the person he is, the coach that he is,” Milton Williams said. “We wanted to go out there and make sure we put on a good performance for him. We know he’s at home watching, and we know he’s proud.”
After the game, the Patriots tweeted out a video of Drake Maye breaking down a huddle in the locker room.
“Bring it in. I know Coach T liked that one,” Maye said. “Coach T liked that one for sure.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
