The first major role of John Harbaugh’s coaching staff has been filled, as the New York Giants are reportedly hiring Dennard Wilson as their defensive coordinator.
Wilson had spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans — his finest showing coming in 2024 when his unit ranked second in the NF with 311.2 total yards allowed per game. They also ranked fourth in the league with an average of 177.3 passing yards allowed, both of which were the organization’s best marks in 25 years.
Harbaugh had previously worked with Wilson with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The 43-year-old was Harbaugh’s defensive backs coach for one season after making the jump from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he held the same position for two years.
Wilson also has prior experience in New York, having spent four years with the Jets as a defensive backs coach and their passing game coordinator.
He now takes over a defense that has significant pieces to build on, despite the Giants having won seven games over the last two seasons. Big Blue has one of the most imposing group of pass rushers in the game, headlined by Brian Burns, who ranked second in the NFL in sacks in 2025, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and rookie phenom Abdul Carter.
The defensive line is anchored by Dexter Lawrence, who is one of the best interior linemen in the game.
But Wilson’s priority will be to help assemble and develop a secondary that has constantly been the Achilles heel of the Giants’ defense in recent years. The acquisitions of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland did not adequately stabilize a unit that lacked significant depth. The run defense was also amongst the worst in the league, allowing 2,470 yards in 2025. Only the Cincinnati Bengals yielded more on the ground.
