Tag: Dennard Wilson

Reports: Giants adding Dennard Wilson as DC, Chris Horton for special teams

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Giants new head coach John Harbaugh is building his coaching staff by hiring Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator and Chris Horton as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Both Wilson and Horton had worked under Harbaugh in Baltimore, who was fired by the Ravens after 18 seasons earlier this month and then hired by the Giants.

Wilson, 43, spent the last two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans after serving under Harbaugh as Baltimore’s defensive backs coach in 2023.

The Ravens fielded one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses that season. They ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth in total yards allowed (301.4 per game) and sixth in passing yardage allowed (191.9 per game).

Wilson’s secondary tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18) and grabbed 18 interceptions, which tied for third in the league.

The Titans ranked 21st in 2025 for yards allowed per game (345.1) and 28th in average points allowed (28.1). This marked a significant decline from Horton’s first season at the post in 2024, when Tennessee was No. 2 in fewest yards per game (311.2) but also 30th in points (27.1).

He was not retained by the Titans’ new head coach, Robert Saleh.

Wilson began his NFL coaching career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, remaining with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles while working as the defensive backs coach in 2015-16. He subsequently filled essentially the same role for the New York Jets (2017-20) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) before joining the Ravens.

He also was a pro scout for the Chicago Bears in 2009-11 as his first NFL job.

Horton, 41, had been the Ravens’ special teams coordinator since 2019, after working as assistant special teams coach from 2014-18.

According to reports, the Ravens denied the Giants and Harbaugh’s request to interview Horton, but then Baltimore hired former Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter as head coach.

Horton played defensive back for parts of three seasons for Washington (2008-10), totaling 122 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and eight passes defensed in 29 games (15 starts).

Washington selected him in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; View of helmets on the field as Tennessee Titans players finish training camp practice. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Titans set to hire Dennard Wilson as DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dennard Wilson, the secondary coach of the Baltimore Ravens’ highly regarded defense this season, is set to join the Tennessee Titans as defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday night.

Brian Callahan recently took over as Tennessee’s head coach, replacing Mike Vrabel. He reportedly will replace Shane Bowen, who had been the Titans’ defensive coordinator since 2021.

Wilson, 41, spent just one season in Baltimore, and the Ravens fielded one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. They ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth in total yards allowed (301.4 per game) and sixth in passing yardage allowed (191.9 per game).

Wilson’s secondary tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18) while grabbing 18 interceptions, which tied for third in the league.

The Ravens, who posted an NFL-best 13-4 record, had their season end Sunday with a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

A University of Maryland alumnus, Wilson never got into an NFL regular-season game.

He began his coaching career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, remaining with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles while working as the defensive backs coach in 2015-16. He subsequently filled essentially the same role for the New York Jets (2017-20) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) before joining the Ravens.

The Titans will hope to upgrade a defense that ranked 16th in opponents’ scoring (21.6 points per game) and 18th in total yards allowed (335.1 per game).

Tennessee finished 6-11, in last place in the AFC South.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmets during the warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens add Dennard Wilson to coaching staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Baltimore Ravens named Dennard Wilson their new defensive backs coach Tuesday, one day after he was exiled by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Wilson went from a candidate for the Eagles’ defensive coordinator vacancy to being let go by head coach Nick Sirianni following a reported acrimonious meeting over the weekend.

“Dennard joining our defensive coaching staff is a strong addition to our team, and he will help us continue to develop our players and scheme in the strongest possible way,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “Dennard is a proven coach who has brought the best out of his units consistently throughout his NFL career. His history of working with defensive backs at the highest level will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our room.”

Wilson, 40, spent the past two seasons with the Eagles, coaching defensive backs in 2021 and adding defensive passing game coordinator title in 2022.

The Eagles went with Sean Desai as defensive coordinator to replace Jonathan Gannon, who left to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Wilson and Sirianni met because the head coach wanted to be convinced Wilson was willing to work with Desai. Wilson reportedly said he could move past his disappointment of not being promoted and cooperate with Desai, but Sirianni apparently had his doubts and decided to split with Wilson — and it wasn’t by mutual decision, per The Inquirer.

Wilson has had coaching stints with the then-St. Louis Rams and New York Jets prior to joining the Eagles. He’s also worked in the scouting department with the Chicago Bears.

–Field Level Media

Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, US; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Eagles fire DB coach Dennard Wilson

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Less than two weeks ago, some Philadelphia Eagles players were lobbying for defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Dennard Wilson to take over as defensive coordinator.

He didn’t get the position, and now he reportedly is out of a job in the organization altogether. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday that Wilson was fired following an “acrimonious meeting” with head coach Nick Sirianni over the weekend.

Instead of picking Wilson, 40, as defensive coordinator, Sirianni went with Seattle Seahawks assistant coach Sean Desai to replace Jonathan Gannon.

Gannon is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Inquirer said Wilson and Sirianni met because the head coach wanted to be convinced Wilson was willing to work with Desai. Wilson reportedly said he could move past his disappointment of not being promoted and cooperate with Desai, but Sirianni apparently had his doubts and decided to split with Wilson — and it wasn’t by mutual decision, per The Inquirer.

Cornerback Darius Slay and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson both pushed on social media for Wilson to land a defensive coordinator job. He interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, who hired veteran coach Jim Schwartz for the post in January.

The Eagles, who lost Super Bowl LVII 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs, will take the field in 2023 with a new defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and linebackers coach on that side of the ball. Linebackers coach Nick Rallis joined Gannon in Arizona.

Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen also departed to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

–Field Level Media