The Cleveland Browns will reportedly be interviewing Eagles defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Dennard Wilson Saturday for their vacant position as defensive coordinator.
That would be a great loss for the Eagles.
News of the Browns’ plan to interview Wilson was originally reported by CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, while Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reported that the interview is scheduled for Saturday.
The Eagles must hope that the Browns will drag this process out. Because Jonathan Gannon is again a candidate for the head coaching gig in Houston and the most obvious internal replacement for him is Wilson, who cannot be promoted if he is already in Cleveland.
Wilson, 40, has been a defensive backs coach with the Eagles since 2021 and joins Nick Sirianni and Gannon’s team. Last season he was promoted and the title of defensive passing coordinator was added alongside his name.
Wilson has been coaching defensive backs in the NFL for years. Before he came to Philadelphia he was with the Jets and before that he was with the Rams. He also had a cup of coffee as a player in the NFL after being undrafted from Maryland in 2004.
Naturally, when Gannon began interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, Wilson thought about how he’d handle landing in the DC chair.
“Look, I’ve been doing this for a long time and I think I’ve been with some great defensive coordinators,” Wilson said this summer. “I’ve been groomed by Gregg Williams, I’ve been groomed by Todd Bowles, who are very good and very thorough in this league. So I was taught by them.
“I know how to run a ship, I know the responsibilities. If the opportunity presents itself, I’m more than ready for it. But I’m here where my feet are and I’m just trying to be the best defender coach I can be.
The Eagles finished this season with the No. 1 passing defense in the NFL, giving up just 179.8 yards per game through the air.
Sure, the Eagles have one of the best groups of cornerbacks in the NFL, but they’ve also had to put together some of the secondaries due to injuries, and Wilson got a good play from UDFA Reed Blankenship and backup K’Von Wallace, among others.
Wilson’s players also seem to think highly of him. They praise him at every opportunity.
Last year after his incredible 2021 season, Darius Slay wondered aloud why Wilson hadn’t been named defensive coordinator yet.
“He’s never misdirected me, not once,” Slay said. “Like I said, I’m just surprised he’s been in the game 15 years and hasn’t had a DC job because he’s a smart guy. And he’s played in this league before, so I won’t be surprised if he gets one of those jobs sooner or later.”
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