John Harbaugh has wasted no time assembling his coaching staff since joining the New York Giants. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Sunday that the G-Men hired defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson after spending the last two seasons in the same position for the Tennessee Titans.
In 2024, under Wilson’s leadership, the Titans’ defense took a major step forward, ranking second in the league in total defense (311.2 YPG) and passing defense (177.3 YPG). Before joining the Titans, Wilson served as the defensive backs coach with the Ravens in 2023, where his relationship with Harbaugh began.
Wilson is best known for connecting with defensive players and unlocking their potential. Under his coaching, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton and Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Wilson also worked well with another defender who has ties to Big Blue and could follow him to New York once free agency begins. His name is Jihad Ward.
Former Giants linebacker Jihad Ward could follow Dennard Wilson to NY
The former linebacker played for the G-Men from 2022 to 2023. He arrived in 2022 with then-defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and set a career-best five sacks with Big Blue in 2023, a mark he tied this past season with the Titans.
The 31-year-old made 12 starts for Tennessee in 2025 and played a career-high 708 snaps on defense, accounting for 67% of the Titans' defensive snaps under the 43-year-old. He’s set to enter free agency this offseason, and you have to imagine he’ll draw interest from several teams, including the Giants.
Ward could very likely welcome a reunion in East Rutherford if it means following his most recent defensive coordinator to New York. The free-agent linebacker spoke with the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard and spoke highly of Wilson:
Former Giant Jihad Ward tells me Dennard Wilson, Ward’s Titans DC, will bring accountability, physicality & attitude to NYG.
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) January 27, 2026
"If you're soft and not physical or smart, you will not play," @JIHADWARD17 said Monday. “Great coach. He just wants you to ball!” https://t.co/OUMf00bhTq pic.twitter.com/WPcT5RhBbV
“If you’re soft and not physical or smart, you will not play,” Ward told Leonard. He added, “Great coach. He just wants you to ball!”
If that doesn’t get you fired up about what the G-Men are getting in their next defensive coordinator, I don’t know what does. Wilson is a huge upgrade, especially after sitting through the disaster class from Shane Bowen, who blew five double-digit fourth-quarter leads last season.
Whether Ward signs with the Giants or not, it’s still a relief knowing there’s a change coming at defensive coordinator and what Big Blue fans can expect from Wilson. The former Titans DC could help recruit several potential free agents to New York this offseason, including defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, edge rusher Arden Key, and safety Geno Stone.