Titans aide Williams will take reins at preseason opener

“I told the team and everyone involved here in the organization that Terrell Williams will act as the head coach against Chicago, starting on Friday,” Vrabel said. “I think this is a great opportunity for him and for us and everybody involved. So Big T will handle that.”

Vrabel said he will travel to Chicago and be at the game to help prepare his team, but Williams will handle operational duties. Defensive line assistant Clinton McMillan will handle the defensive line.

Williams joined the Titans as defensive line coach in 2018, and this offseason, he was promoted to assistant head coach.

Prior to joining the Titans, Williams coached defensive linemen with the Raiders (2012-14) and Dolphins (2015-17) in the NFL. Williams worked at Texas A&M, Purdue, Akron, Youngstown State, North Carolina A&T and Fort Scott CC at the college ranks before landing in the NFL.

Williams will also handle the postgame press conference in Chicago.

“We’ll go into the game with things we’ll try and get done and I’m sure he’ll try and do that, and I’ll help him where need be,” Vrabel said. “But I do think it will be a great opportunity, well deserved. This is something that I wanted to do. I’ll obviously be involved and coach the guys on technique and help T where I can, if there’s a question or concern. I'll try and help him understand that role and what’s required. … I'm sure he’ll do a great job.”

The Titans travel to Chicago this week to open their preseason schedule against the Bears. Kickoff at Soldier Field (capacity 61,500) is scheduled for noon.

The Titans and Bears will clash in the preseason for the fourth time in a seven-year span, having done so in 2017, 2019 and 2021. The last regular season meeting occurred at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 8, 2020, a game the Titans won 24-17 to take a 7-6 lead in the all-time series.