Report: Eagles, DBs Coach ‘Part Ways’
Dennard Wilson Leaves Nest Following Birds Hiring of DC Sean Desai
The Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff is set to undergo further changes after the hiring of Sean Desai as new defensive coordinator.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the team and defensive backs coach/pass defense coordinator Dennard Wilson are mutually parting, after the Eagles last week named Desai as defensive coordinator over Wilson.
After being a finalist for the #Eagles DC job that went to Sean Desai, Philly defensive pass game coordinator and DBs coach Dennard Wilson and the team are mutually parting ways, sources say. This is often the outcome when an in-house candidate is passed over for a promotion.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2023
The 40-year-old Wilson was considered the top internal candidate to replace former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who became head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Multiple Eagles players expressed support for Wilson as deserving of becoming a defensive coordinator.
Ultimately, the Eagles decided to go outside of the organization with the hiring of Desai.
Head coach Nick Sirianni alluded to Wilson potentially wanting out last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“Dennard is a great football coach. He’s done an outstanding job,” Sirianni said. “If he is still our defensive backs coach, we’ll be lucky to have him because he know how good of a coach he is.”
Wilson joined Gannon’s staff in 2021, spending his previous four seasons with the Jets in the same role.
The secondary had a successful season under Wilson’s watch in 2022. Cornerback Darius Slay made the Pro Bowl, James Bradberry was named second team All-Pro, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead in interceptions despite missing five games and adjusting to a brand-new scheme after arriving to Philadelphia in early September.
With the defensive backs coaching position now open, Philadelphia has three holes on the defensive coaching staff to fill, with linebackers coach Nick Rallis leaving to become Gannon’s DC in Arizona and defensive quality control coach Joe Kasper joining Vic Fangio’s staff on the Miami Dolphins.
– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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