A former New York Giants player has warned the team about new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
The New York Giants landed their new defensive coordinator over the weekend, hiring Dennard Wilson from the Tennessee Titans.
Wilson spent one year under John Harbaugh back in 2023 when he served as Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach, so clearly, Harbaugh liked what he saw from Wilson during that lone season.
The Giants' decision to bring in Wilson has been met with some resistance from the fan base due to the fact that the Titans' defense struggled considerably during Wilson's two years in Music City, but a former New York player just said exactly what Giants fans want to hear.
Jihad Ward, a defensive end who spent two years with Big Blue between 2022 and 2023 and played for the Titans in 2025, has sent a pretty stern warning to New York players regarding Wilson.
“If you’re soft and not physical or smart, you will not play,” Ward said, via Pat Leonard of The New York Daily News.
Ward registered 31 tackles and five sacks this past season and called Wilson a "great coach" who "knows ball."
Dennard Wilson. Credit: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK.Wilson has made various stops throughout his NFL coaching career, also spending time with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles.
The 43-year-old will be joining a Giants squad that certainly has plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the form of edge rushers Brian Burns and Abdul Carter as well as defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Of course, New York has some holes it needs to address on that side of the ball, too.
The Giants really need to add a run-stuffing interior defender alongside of Lawrence, and the secondary needs work, especially if Cor'Dale Flott departs via free agency.
But there is no doubt that the G-Men at least have some very intriguing pieces in place at some vital positions.
New York entered 2025 with Shane Bowen as its defensive coordinator, but he was fired during the second half of the campaign. He was replaced by Charlie Bullen, who seems primed to return to the Giants in some capacity.
Hopefully, Wilson can get the most out of New York's defense, which is something that Bowen certainly was not able to do.
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