SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Zak Kuhr didn鈥檛 have any lofty expectations when he joined Mike Vrabel鈥檚 coaching staff as an inside linebackers coach prior to this season.
A former defensive assistant under Vrabel during his tenure as Tennessee Titans coach, more than anything Kuhr felt he was just getting another chance to coach alongside someone whom he believed had a plan that could rebuild the New England Patriots.
But when defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was before the start of the season, Kuhr also found out how much trust his head coach had in him when he was named de facto coordinator while Williams concentrated on treatment.
鈥淚t meant a lot and, obviously, I know T had say in that as well with him,鈥� Kuhr said. 鈥淭hat means the world. One thing that drives me most is one, doubters, and two, people that believe in me. I鈥檒l go to the edge of the Earth.鈥�
Kuhr has proven up to the task, bringing some different wrinkles to a defense that has allowed just two touchdowns this postseason as the Patriots prepare for their with the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
鈥淶ak has been fantastic,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淚 think that, much like players when given opportunities, coaches sometimes have the same thing. When they get more opportunity, they take advantage of it and then turn that into something else.鈥�
What Kuhr has presided over is a unit that didn鈥檛 allow a 100-yard rusher through its first nine games of the season.
By the end of the regular season the Patriots ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in total defense (eighth, 295.2 yards per game), rushing defense (fifth, 101.7 yards per game), passing defense (ninth, 193.5 yards per game) and points allowed per game (fourth, 18.8 points per game).
, who traveled to the Bay Area for the Super Bowl after being declared cancer-free, said he knew Kuhr would thrive.
鈥淪ometimes, when you coach in this league, you鈥檝e got coaches who are pulling in different directions,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淓verybody has a motive. The only motive for us was to improve. Not to win, but to improve. We figured that the improvement would come. But Zak has done an unbelievable job. I鈥檓 proud of him, and I鈥檓 looking forward to him calling this game on Sunday.鈥�
Kuhr鈥檚 first job in the NFL came in 2020 when he was hired as a quality coach by Vrabel, then the Titans coach. Also there was Williams, who was brought in by Vrabel in his first season in Tennessee in 2018 to coach the defensive line.
The trio’s relationship grew after Kuhr was promoted to assistant inside linebackers coach the following season, a role he held until Vrabel鈥檚 tenure ended in 2023.
After a year as a defensive assistant with the New York Giants, Kuhr rejoined Vrabel and Williams in New England.
Kuhr said any success he鈥檚 had this season stems from that support system around him 鈥� coaches and players. Though his pedigree as a college coach came on the offensive side of the ball, he said his time as a Tennessee assistant, where he initially switched to the defensive side of the ball, has been key.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been like whatever I鈥檓 going to do, I鈥檓 going to pour into,” Kuhr said. “I didn鈥檛 want to be like, 鈥極h, I鈥檓 this offensive guy and this is temporary.鈥� (In Tennessee) I just learned from Shane (Bowen) and (Jim) Schwartz and T and Vrabes, and it just bloomed from there.鈥�
Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson said one of Kuhr鈥檚 best attributes is that he knows when not to do too much.
鈥淚 think Zak, man, he鈥檚 doing his thing. One thing is let the players play,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淗e believes that we make every call right. He draws up some great plays. But his true understanding is that it doesn鈥檛 work unless we go out there and perfect them. He appreciates every player鈥檚 skill set and what they bring to the defense. And he utilizes them the right way for sure.”
Kuhr said he plans to make Sunday a celebration of what everyone has been building together.
That will be an ode not only to the confidence and knowledge he said Williams has supplied him, but freedom and trust given to him by Vrabel as well.
鈥�(Vrabel) challenges you with great intention to push you. It鈥檚 not, I鈥檓 being hard on you,鈥� Kuhr said. 鈥淵ou feel so confident going into the game because everybody on the staff and him knows that we鈥檙e always going through this together. We all have your back, don鈥檛 be scared to call something, where some places you鈥檙e afraid to call something because you鈥檙e afraid of the backlash. … It just gives you that much more confidence on game day.鈥�
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