Joejuan Williams is Coming Back to the Patriots — As a Coach!

What Happened?

Two months after saying he was done playing pro football, former NFL cornerback Joejuan Williams shared some big news. The 28-year-old is going back to the New England Patriots — but not to play. He’s going to coach!

He told everyone on social media that he’s returning to the team in a brand-new way.

How Is He Joining the Team?

Williams will join the Patriots’ coaching staff this summer. He is part of something called the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

Important Point: The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship is a program that helps give people from different backgrounds a chance to learn how to be coaches in the NFL.

Joejuan’s Playing Days with the Patriots

Here’s a quick look at his time as a player:

• The Patriots picked him in the second round of the 2019 draft.
• He played in 38 games total (regular season and playoff games) for New England.
• Even though he was very athletic, he never became a regular player on defense.
• He helped the team most on special teams (that’s the group that does kickoffs, punts, and similar plays).
• Because of this, the Patriots did not sign him again as a free agent in 2023.

Where Did He Go After New England?

After leaving the Patriots, Williams didn’t stop playing right away:

1. He played for the Minnesota Vikings.
2. He played for the Chicago Bears.
3. He played for the New Orleans Saints.

Those teams added 6 more games to his count, making 44 games total in his career.
His last game was in January 2024. Then in May, he said he was retiring (stepping away from playing).

How Did Coaching Start for Him?

Almost right after retiring, Williams got into coaching:

• He first went to coach at Vanderbilt, his old college (we call that his “alma mater” — the school he graduated from).

• He explained how it happened in a simple way:

  “I ran into my corners coach at Vandy one day. I was telling him, ‘Hey, I plan on coaching probably the ‘27 season,’ and he was like, ‘Nah, come in now.’ I came in, showed up ever since and it was just natural, being in the room, talking to the guys, teaching them.”

• After Vanderbilt, he joined the Washington Commanders as a Bill Walsh fellow.
• He spent two weeks with the Commanders.
• Now, he’ll use what he learned there to help him in New England.

When Does Patriots Training Camp Start?

The Patriots will open their 2026 training camp on Saturday, July 25. That’s when Williams will start working with the team as a coach.

Summary

Joejuan Williams used to play football for the Patriots and other teams. He retired in 2024, then quickly started coaching. After coaching at Vanderbilt and with the Commanders, he is now returning to the Patriots as a coach through the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship. He starts this summer when training camp opens on July 25, 2026.

FAQ

1. What is a cornerback?
A cornerback is a defensive player in football who tries to stop the other team’s receivers from catching the ball.

2. What does “retiring from pro football” mean?
It means he stopped playing football as a paid professional.

3. What is the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship?
It’s a program that gives people a short-term chance to learn coaching in the NFL and brings more diverse voices into coaching.

4. Did Williams only play for the Patriots?
No. He also played for the Vikings, Bears, and Saints before retiring.

5. Will Williams play for the Patriots again?
No. He is returning as a coach, not as a player.