Reports: Giants adding Dennard Wilson as DC, Chris Horton for special teams

Field Level Media|published: Sun 25th January, 20:26 2026

Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson speaks with the media during OTAs at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

New York Giants new head coach John Harbaugh is building his coaching staff by hiring Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator and Chris Horton as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Both Wilson and Horton had worked under Harbaugh in Baltimore, who was fired by the Ravens after 18 seasons earlier this month and then hired by the Giants.

Wilson, 43, spent the last two seasons as defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans after serving under Harbaugh as Baltimore's defensive backs coach in 2023.

The Ravens fielded one of the NFL's stingiest defenses that season. They ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth in total yards allowed (301.4 per game) and sixth in passing yardage allowed (191.9 per game).

Wilson's secondary tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18) and grabbed 18 interceptions, which tied for third in the league.

The Titans ranked 21st in 2025 for yards allowed per game (345.1) and 28th in average points allowed (28.1). This marked a significant decline from Horton's first season at the post in 2024, when Tennessee was No. 2 in fewest yards per game (311.2) but also 30th in points (27.1).

He was not retained by the Titans' new head coach, Robert Saleh.

Wilson began his NFL coaching career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, remaining with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles while working as the defensive backs coach in 2015-16. He subsequently filled essentially the same role for the New York Jets (2017-20) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) before joining the Ravens.

He also was a pro scout for the Chicago Bears in 2009-11 as his first NFL job.

Horton, 41, had been the Ravens' special teams coordinator since 2019, after working as assistant special teams coach from 2014-18.

According to reports, the Ravens denied the Giants and Harbaugh's request to interview Horton, but then Baltimore hired former Los Angeles Chargers DC Jesse Minter as head coach.

Horton played defensive back for parts of three seasons for Washington (2008-10), totaling 122 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and eight passes defensed in 29 games (15 starts).

Washington selected him in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA.

--Field Level Media

Latest