Titans Confirm Hirings of Offensive and Defensive Coordinators
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan officially has his offensive and defensive coordinators in the building.
The Titans confirmed on Monday that contracts have been finalized with defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and offensive coordinator Nick Holz.
In 2022 and 2023, Wilson served as the defensive backs coach for two of the best pass defenses in the NFL.
A year ago, the Philadelphia Eagles reached the Super Bowl with a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards yards per game (179.8) and ranked third in opposing quarterback rating (81.6). Cornerbacks James Bradberry and Darius Slay were the only tandem to each produce 14 passes defensed and three interceptions.
This past season, Wilson's Baltimore Ravens defense ranked first in fewest points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth overall with 301.4 yards allowed per game, and sixth in pass defense (191.9 yards per game). Additionally, the defense held opponents to a third-down conversion rate of 36.4%.
The Ravens defense led the league in sacks and safety Kyle Hamilton was a first-team All-Pro, contributing 75 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions.
"D-Will is a super smart dude," Hamilton told tennesseetitans.com "He helped us out a lot this year. We wouldn't be where we're at without him. We didn't give up a lot of big plays, and that was due a lot to his scheme and his ideas. He was working very close with our DC... He's going to try and create smart guys, and let them be confident and go out there and make plays."
Holz comes to the Titans after serving as the Passing Game Coordinator for Jacksonville for one season. The Jaguars ranked ninth (242.7 yards per game) and 13th in points scored (22.2 points per game).
There were notable individual performances: wide receiver Calvin Ridley's 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns and Evan Engram leading all NFL tight ends with 114 receptions for 963 yards.
"I love Nick, love working with him," Engram told tennesseetitans.com "He's just a great offensive mind, very creative, very innovative. I'm really happy for him to get this opportunity, and I know he's not going to take it lightly.
Holz spent 10 years (2012-21) with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and served in a variety of roles on offense, mostly focused on wide receivers.
In 2021, when Holz was assistant wide receivers coach, the Raiders' Hunter Renfrow posted career-best numbers (103 receptions for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns) and earned Pro Bowl honors.
Holz has known the Callahan family since he and Brian were teenagers. They were teammates at De La Salle High School. And Bill Callahan, Brian's father, gave Holz his first coaching job at the University of Nebraska.
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