The Giants are signing Dennard Wilson to be their new defensive coordinator. Wilson spent the past two years running a Tennessee defense that hasn't been awesome but probably performed better than you think. The Titans ranked 21st in total yards allowed last season; second in 2024. The team also finished a decent 17th in defensive DVOA in Wilson's first season (down to 29th in 2025). This year's unit improved against the run over the second half, after DT Jeffery Simmons returned from a mid-season injury. Wilson's NFL run dates back to 2009, when he started as a pro scout with the Bears. He worked under Lovie Smith there ahead of turns with the Rams, Jets, Eagles, and Ravens. Walker spent 2023 as DBs coach under new Giants HC John Harbaugh before taking the Titans job.
Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com: "Wilson broke into the league as a coach with the Rams as the defensive quality control for Gregg Williams, one of the mentors who helped shape his approach to the game. He counts the uber-aggressive Williams and Todd Bowles -- with whom he worked with the Jets -- as influences."
More from Stapleton: "Wilson has a track record of getting the most out of his players ... His pass defenders have been among tops in the league."
Stapleton specifically highlights these connections:
He inherits a Giants D with Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin as the incumbent safety starters. Holland's likely locked in through at least 2026, thanks to the free-agent deal he signed last offseason (three years, $15 million annual average).
Nubin arrived as a second-round pick in 2024 and has spent his two years as a starter. That should put him on track to hold down the spot again, but we'll see whether there's competition this summer. Nubin returned from a mid-year injury to find his playing time shared with Dane Belton late in the year.
We'll also watch for signals on Walker's blitz plans. These Giants should be well set up to deliver a pass rush without a lot of blitzing from the off-ball LBs. But Bobby Okereke's role has swung both ways. Pro Football Focus counted 136 pass rushes for him in his 2023 Giants debut (among 1,128 total snaps), compared with just 48 rushes (among 1,104 snaps) in 2025.
The defenses of Walker's aforementioned influences have leaned more on LB blitzing at times.
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