John Harbaugh makes coaching staff hire after accepting Giants role
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has found his defensive coordinator. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo, the Giants are hiring Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
Wilson has worked under Harbaugh before. He was the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, and the Ravens had the best scoring defense in the league, allowing just 16.5 points per game. Strong safety Kyle Hamilton made an All-Pro team after earning three sacks and four interceptions.
After defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald became head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, Wilson left as well. He became the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans, and while his scoring defenses were bottom five in the league both years, he allowed the second lowest number of yards per game (311.2) in 2024.
Advanced stats paint his tenure in a much better light: he was fifth in yards allowed per drive (28.8), although his defense went down to 18th (31.9) in 2025.
Before his time with the Ravens, he had jobs as a pro scout for the Chicago Bears (2009-11), def. quality control and DBs coach for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2012-16), DBs coach for the New York Jets (2017-20) and DBs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22). He’s developed guys like Jamal Adams, Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, and Marcus Maye.
The Giants have the recipe for a great defense, with All-Pros Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence alongside rookies Abdul Carter and Darius Alexander, along with quality players such as Bobby Okereke, Paulson Adebo, and Jevon Holland. However, they ranked just 26th in points allowed per game (25.8), resulting in former Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen being fired midseason.
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They’re desperately looking for a cultural reset. Since their Super Bowl win at the end of the 2011 season, the Giants have only made the playoffs twice in 14 years, including just one playoff win. Harbaugh is bringing Wilson to revitalize the defense, and it remains to be seen whom he’ll hire on the offensive side of the ball.
