NFL Rumors: Titans Hiring Ravens DB Coach Dennard Wilson as DC Under Brian Callahan

The Tennessee Titans have their new defensive coordinator, reportedly hiring Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson at the position, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz and ESPN's Dan Graziano and Turron Davenport.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday that Wilson and the Titans had finalized contractual terms.

The Titans already hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace Mike Vrabel at head coach and have interviewed Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Thad Lewis and Jacksonville Jaguars passing-game coordinator Nick Holz for their vacancy at offensive coordinator.

They also reportedly have requested to interview Miami Dolphins associate head coach and running backs coach Eric Studesville for the OC position.

The Ravens, meanwhile, have seen their coaching staff get raided this offseason, with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald becoming the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Further changes could be coming in Baltimore, where the team's success this past season has teams around the league intrigued by its staff.

As for Wilson, the 41-year-old had a brief NFL career before transitioning to coaching.

He's since served as the defensive quality control coach (2012-14) and defensive backs coach (2015-16) for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, the defensive backs coach (2017-18) and both D-backs coach and passing-game coordinator (2019-20) for the New York Jets, the defensive backs coach (2021) and both D-backs coach and passing-game coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles (2022) and the defensive backs coach for the Ravens this past season.

There was some surprise in Philadelphia ahead of the 2023 campaign when Nick Sirianni chose an outside option for defensive coordinator (Sean Desai) to replace Jonathan Gannon rather than promote Wilson from within. Desai ultimately lost his play-calling duties to the beleaguered Matt Patricia, and this offseason the Eagles hired Vic Fangio as DC.

But Wilson has gotten his chance to run a defense in Tennessee, taking over a unit that finished 16th in points allowed (21.6 PPG) and 18th in yardage (335.1 YPG).

The Titans are banking on the potential of Callahan and Wilson, who have never served as a head coach or defensive coordinator, respectively. It's a new era in Tennessee as the team builds around young quarterback Will Levis, and Wilson is now tasked with improving the defensive side of the ball.