Dennard Wilson, Handed the Keys to Titans Defense, Promises to Attack

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan clarified Wednesday why he chose Dennard Wilson as his defensive coordinator.

"I wanted the best defensive coach I could find and I believe we did with Dennard," Callahan said during a press conference to introduce the Titans' new defensive and offensive coordinators, Wilson and Nick Holz. 

As he explained when he was hired as Tennessee head coach, Callahan will call plays on offense — an atypical relationship between NFL coach and coordinator, but one that Callahan worked as a coordinator under Zac Taylor in Cincinnati. But the keys to the Titans defense, Callahan made clear Wednesday, belong to Wilson. 

"Dennard will have the autonomy to run the defense how he sees fit," Callahan said. "As the head coach, my job is always to oversee that process, help him where he could need help, for him to lean on me when he has questions about what an offense is doing.  

"At the end of the day, the expectation is that Dennard's got control of the defense, and I'll be there as a resource and an asset when he needs it. But I wanted a guy who could command the defense, command the room for sure, and I think I found that."

Wilson didn't get into what type of scheme the Titans will run on defense, but he did speak to the mentality he wants.

"Football, it's not about the scheme, it's about the players," Wilson said. "So we have to figure out what they do well, and we'll put the scheme around them to allow their talents to flourish.

"I can tell you this about the scheme and I learned this a long time ago. Gen. George Patton said this: Nobody ever defended anything successfully. You are going to attack, and attack some more."

 Wilson sounded like a man in charge.

"We are going to talk about effort and how we play. We are going to talk about having obnoxious communication. We are going to talk about brotherhood, playing as one. A team that fails to connect is a team that fails to win. So, the connection and how we play, communicate, and jell will allow the defense to come to life. Because when they believe in one another and trust in one another to execute their assignment and play at a high level, you get outstanding, violent defenses."

Wilson has coached great ones, particularly in the past two years.

As defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator in 2021 and 2022, Wilson helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LVII. 

This past season, the Baltimore Ravens had one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL and reached the AFC Championship Game.

All told, Wilson has spent 16 years in the NFL as a scout and teacher of defenses.

Callahan believes Wilson's wealth of experience will translate well to the Titans.

“One of the things I’ve always respected about the places Dennard’s been and the defenses he’s been a part of is that ability to be flexible and adaptable to what the scheme on offense is presenting you while still keeping a core, fundamental approach to what is important on the defense," Callahan said.