Dennard Wilson is in his first season with the Titans as defensive coordinator. He arrived in Tennessee with 12 years of NFL coaching experience, including nine seasons leading defensive back units.

Prior to joining the Titans, Wilson spent the 2023 campaign as the defensive backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens, working with head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Ravens defense ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth overall (301.4 yards allowed per game), sixth in pass defense (191.9 yards per game), seventh in third-down percentage (36.4), first in sacks (60) and third in interceptions (18). Second-year safety Kyle Hamilton earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after totaling 75 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions.

Before he joined the Ravens, Wilson spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs (2022) and a defensive backs coach (2021). In 2022, his defensive backs led the way as the Eagles ranked first in the NFL in pass defense (179.8 yards per game), third in opposing quarterback rating (81.6) and had the fourth-most takeaways (17 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries) en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. James Bradberry and Pro Bowler Darius Slay were the only cornerback tandem to each produce 14 passes defensed and three interceptions. Bradberry, a second-team All-Pro, posted the NFL's third-lowest passer rating allowed (55.9) and the third-most passes defensed (17) among players targeted at least 50 times.

In 2021, Slay was named to the Pro Bowl after pacing the team with nine passes defensed, five takeaways (three interceptions and two fumble recoveries) and an NFL-best three defensive touchdowns. Avonte Maddox finished the season as the only NFL cornerback with at least five tackles for loss and multiple forced fumbles (two). Philadelphia tied New England for the NFL's second-fewest completions of 20-plus yards allowed and ranked 11th in pass defense (220.9 yards per game).

Wilson spent four total seasons (2017-20) with the New York Jets—initially as defensive backs coach (2017-18) and then passing game coordinator/defensive backs (2019-20). While there he oversaw the development of safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Adams earned three Pro Bowl nods and first team All-Pro honors during their time together.

In 2020, Maye enjoyed a career year that saw him record single-season highs in all major defensive categories, including tackles (88), tackles for loss (four), sacks (two), interceptions (two), forced fumbles (two) and passes defensed (11).

In 2019, the Jets fielded the NFL's seventh-ranked overall defense (323.1 yards per game), while Wilson continued to oversee the development of Adams, who was voted the Curtis Martin Team MVP by his teammates for the second-straight year and earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Adams led all NFL defensive backs with a then-career-high 6.5 sacks.

In 2018, the Jets finished eighth in opponent completion percentage (63.1) and sixth in opponent third-down conversion percentage on pass attempts (31.6). Wilson coached Adams to his first-career Pro Bowl nod, following a season in which the safety posted a career-best 115 tackles (86 solo), which ranked third among defensive backs. Adams' totals also included 3.5 sacks, one interception and 12 passes defensed.

In 2017, Wilson helped integrate the Jets' first- and second-round picks, Adams and Maye, who became the first pair of rookie safeties in league history to start all 16 games. Adams earned PFWA All-Rookie honors, and the Jets' 59.0 percent opponent completion rate ranked eighth.

Wilson's initial NFL coaching job was with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams under head coach Jeff Fisher. He began his tenure with the Rams as a defensive quality control coach (2012-14) and then spent two years as the defensive backs coach (2015-16).

In 2016, Wilson mentored a group of defensive backs that helped the Rams post the ninth overall defense (337.0 yards per game) and third-down defense (37.3 percent).

In 2015, Wilson led a defensive back unit that helped the Rams defense rank sixth in third-down percentage (34.7) and second in red-zone efficiency (41.7 percent).

Wilson broke into the NFL in player personnel. From 2008 to 2011, he was employed by the Chicago Bears as a pro scout.

He originally entered coaching as a defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for his high school alma mater, DeMatha Catholic (Md.) from 2004 to 2006. He then went to his college alma mater, the University of Maryland, as a graduate assistant (2007-08).

The Upper Marlboro, Md., native was a three-year starter and team captain as a corner and safety at Maryland. He appeared in 42 total collegiate games with 30 starts from 2000 to 2003, totaling 158 career tackles for the Terrapins. As a senior captain in 2003, he was an honorable mention All-ACC performer after leading the Terrapins with 12 passes defensed. In 2001, he was part of the school's ACC Championship squad. He earned a degree in communications from Maryland.

Wilson entered the NFL in 2004 as a rookie free agent with Washington. He landed on the team's practice squad before suffering a season-ending injury.

He and his wife, Taihitia, have a daughter, Riley, and a son, Reece.

DENNARD WILSON'S COACHING TIMELINE

2024: Defensive Coordinator – Tennessee Titans
2023: Defensive Backs – Baltimore Ravens
2022: Defensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs – Philadelphia Eagles
2021: Defensive Backs – Philadelphia Eagles
2019-20: Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs – New York Jets
2017-18: Defensive Backs – New York Jets
2015-16: Defensive Backs – St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams
2012-14: Defensive Quality Control – St. Louis Rams
2008-11: Pro Scout – Chicago Bears
2007-08: Graduate Assistant – University of Maryland
2004-06: Defensive Backs/Passing Game Coordinator – DeMatha Catholic (Md.) High School