John Harbaugh Reportedly Hires New Defensive Coordinator for Giants Coaching Staff

Former Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson is reportedly joining John Harbaugh's Giants coaching staff.

Former Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson is reportedly joining John Harbaugh in Tennessee. | Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has reportedly hired Dennard Wilson to be the team’s new defensive coordinator.  

Giants fans might remember Wilson as being one of the candidates former Giants head coach Brian Daboll tried to hire after the team’s ugly split with Wink Martindale following the 2023 season. 

Wilson instead went to the Tennessee Titans as their defensive coordinator under head coach Brian Callahan. Still, he became available for hire once the Titans hired Robert Saleh, a defensive-oriented head coach.  

Wilson is a former NFL safety who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland with the Washington Commanders in 2004. He immediately went into coaching, not long after his NFL career fizzled, getting his first NFL gig with the St. Louis Rams in 2012 as a defensive quality control coach. 

Wilson also spent time with the Jets (2017 to 2020) and Eagles (2021 to 2022) before joining Harbaugh in Baltimore as the team’s defensive backs coach for the 2023 season. 

The following year, Wilson chose the Titans' defensive coordinator job over that of the Giants, who hired Shane Bowen, the man Wilson replaced in Tennessee, for their defensive coordinator job. 

Although Wilson has a small sample size as an NFL defensive coordinator, he had a promising start in his first season with Tennessee. According to his Titans bio, in 2024, the Titans ranked second overall in total defense (311.2 opponent yards per game)—the team's highest ranking since leading the NFL in total defense in 2000. 

Wilson’s Titans defense that year also finished second in passing defense (177.3), which was their best ranking since 2000 (first), and tied for the fifth-fewest first downs allowed per game (18.5) and tied for the fifth-fewest opponent yards allowed per play (5.2) in 2024.

The pending hire of Wilson now gives the Giants their second of two coordinators –the team also is said to have hired former Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton for the same role with the Giants–and the fourth reported assistant coach who has prior ties to Harbaugh from his days in Baltimore.

The Giants are reportedly waiting to see if Todd Monken, Harbaugh's offensive coordinator in Baltimore, lands with the Cleveland Browns as their new head coach.

Giants add additional coaching staff members

In addition to the two coordinators (Wilson and Horton) hired over the weekend, the Giants’ new head coach also made some additional hires to his staff.

Those hires–all of whom were on Harbaugh’s Ravens coaching staff last year include assistant linebackers coach Matt Pees, running backs quality control coach Adam Schrack, defensive backs quality control coach Brendan Clark, and analyst Noah Riley. 

Giants New Coaching Staff Tracker

Coach	Role
Tim Kelly	Offensive Role - TBD
Charlie Bullen	Defensive Role - TBD
Willie Taggart	Running Backs
Dennis Johnson	Defensive Line
Chris Horton	Special Teams Coordinator
Dennard Wilson	Defensive Coordinator
Matt Pees	Assistant Linebackers
Adam Schrack	Running Backs Quality Control
Brendan Clark	Defensive Backs Quality Control
Noah Riley	Football Analyst

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