One name that should be on the radar of NFL teams in need of a head coach is Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. In his first season as a DC, Wilson helped the Titans rank second in total defense, first in pass defense and eighth in run defense.
Not bad for a 42-year-old first-time coordinator.
On Sunday, Wilson returns home as the Titans travel to Landover, Maryland to take on the Washington Commanders. Wilson was born and raised near Commanders' Northwest Stadium in Prince George's County, Maryland. He played at the University of Maryland and signed with the then-Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2004.
An injury ended Wilson's playing career before it began, but he quickly made an impact as a coach.
“It’s not about me; “All I care about is getting back to Washington and getting a win,” Wilson said Thursday. “All I care about is the success of this defense.”
Wilson then thought about growing up in the Washington area.
“Obviously I love being from the East Coast, the Maryland/DMV area,” he said. “A lot of my family is there. I have great memories. The high school was just down the street; My grandmother lived right across the street from the stadium. I probably grew up 10 minutes away from it. Being from there is a damn good thing and I represent it well.”
Sunday will be a homecoming DC Dennard Wilson, who attended DeMatha Catholic High School, played there and joined in as UDFA in 2004.
– Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports)
The Titans struggled to find wins in 2024, but you can't blame Tennessee's defense, which is why you'll hear Wilson's name when the offseason recruiting cycle begins.
