Dennard Wilson

Last updated

Dennard Wilson
Titans Introduce DC Dennard Wilson (cropped).png
Wilson with the Tennessee Titans in 2024
Tennessee Titans
Position: Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1982-03-31) March 31, 1982 (age 42)
Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
High school: DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland)
College: Maryland
Undrafted: 2004
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Record at Pro Football Reference

Dennard Wilson (born March 31, 1982) is an American football coach and former safety who is the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former American football safety in the NFL who was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins in 2004. He played college football at the University of Maryland and matriculated with a bachelor's degree in communications. [1]

Contents

Football Administration Career

Player Personnel / Scouting

He spent three years as a pro scout in the player personnel department for the Chicago Bears from 2008 through 2011.

Playing career

Wilson played cornerback and safety for the Maryland Terrapins from 2000 until 2003, [2] appearing in 42 games and making 30 starts. He totaled 158 tackles and was an honorable All-ACC pick as a senior after leading the Terrapins with 12 pass defenses. Wilson was a four-year letter winner and three-year starting defensive back for the Terps. As a captain of the team, Wilson was an honorable mention All-ACC performer as a senior in 2003. An undrafted free agent, Wilson signed with the Washington Redskins in 2004 [3] and spent time on their practice squad before suffering a season-ending injury. [4]

Coaching career

Maryland

Wilson was graduate assistant for Maryland from 2007 to 2008.

St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

Wilson started his NFL coaching career with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams for five seasons. Under head coach Jeff Fisher, Wilson served as defensive quality control coach for the St. Louis Rams from 2012 to 2014 and promoted to defensive backs coach from 2015 to 2016.

New York Jets

Following his stint with the Rams, Wilson coached four seasons with the New York Jets as the defensive backs coach from 2017 to 2020. He added passing game coordinator duties as well in 2019. Under Wilson's tutelage, Jamal Adams [5] earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors following the 2018 and '19 seasons after ranking first in sacks and tackles for loss among all NFL defensive backs during that span.

Philadelphia Eagles

Wilson moved onto to be the defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. [6] Named as the Passing game coordinator during the 2022–2023 season, Wilson's defensive backs helped the Eagles to be the #1 passing defense while finishing #2 total defense in the NFL. During this season, cornerbacks James Bradberry was named NFL 1st team All-Pro [7] and Darius Slay was named to his 5th Pro Bowl. [8] In addition, safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson was converted from slot corner and led the NFL in interceptions while only playing in 12 games. [9]

Baltimore Ravens

Following the 2022–23 season, Dennard departed the Eagles. Shortly after he was named defensive backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens. Kyle Hamilton was named to the 2023-2024 All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams as the Baltimore Ravens strong safety. The Ravens finished the regular season with a triple crown NFL record as the first team in history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5 per game), sacks (60), and takeaways (31). [10]

Tennessee Titans

In February 2024, Wilson was hired as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Player Bio: Dennard Wilson :: Football". April 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Dennard Wilson Biography - Maryland Terrapins Athletics - University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site". www.umterps.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015.
  3. ↑ "5/30 Redskins sign DB Dennard Wilson and OL Daniel Martz". May 31, 2006.
  4. ↑ "TheHogs.net - View topic - Redskins Release Dennard Wilson". www.thehogs.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ Mehta, Manish (July 27, 2020). "Jamal Adams praises Jets coaches Gregg Williams, Dennard Wilson for turning him into a star". nydailynews.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Eagles announce Nick Sirianni's first coaching staff". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Six Eagles named to the 2022 All-Pro Team". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Despite fantastic season, Slay gets just 1 All-Pro vote". RSN. January 14, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  9. ↑ "NFL.com | Official Site of the National Football League". NFL.com. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Ravens Defense Set a Triple-Crown NFL Record".
  11. ↑ "Titans Hire Nick Holz as Offensive Coordinator, Dennard Wilson as Defensive Coordinator". TennesseeTitans.com. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
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