Browns speak to Eagles assistant Dennard Wilson for DC vacancy
The Browns conducted a third interview for their vacant defensive coordinator position on Saturday when they spoke with Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach Dennard Wilson, the team announced.
Wilson, 40, has been the Eagles’ defensive backs coach since 2021 under head coach Nick Sirianni and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. He added passing game coordinator to his title this season.
Philadelphia is on its bye week as the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. That opened the door for Wilson to speak with the Browns on the vacancy, which was created when they fired Joe Woods after their season ended.
The Browns interviewed Tennessee Titans senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz on Wednesday. On Thursday, they interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant/linebacker coach and former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who is also expected to interview for the Arizona Cardinals’ vacant head-coaching job.
Seattle Seahawks associate head coach/defense Sean Desai is another target the Browns are expected to speak with next week. Desai will be coaching in an NFC Wild Card game on Saturday afternoon at the San Francisco 49ers.
New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo was another the Browns requested permission to speak to about the job. However, the Patriots announced Thursday evening they were in the process of negotiating a long-term deal to keep Mayo in the organization.
The Eagles were No. 2 in the league in yards allowed at 301.5 per game, but No. 1 in passing defense with 179.8 yards per game. Philadelphia was eighth in points allowed at 20.2, and 17th in rushing yards allowed at 121.6.
Wilson’s been responsible for one of the top secondary groups in the league the last two seasons. Cornerback James Bradberry was named on Friday as a second-team selection to the Associated Press All-Pro team.
Along with Bradberry, cornerback Darius Slay is ranked 25th overall among corners by Pro Football Focus. Safety Reed Blankenship graded out as the 15th-best at his position by PFF.
Wilson started his NFL coaching career in 2012 with the then-St. Louis Rams as a defensive quality control coach. He held that position through 2014 before being elevated to defensive backs coach for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
After his time with the Rams, Wilson moved to the New York Jets, where he spent 2017-20 as the defensive backs coach. He added, as he has in Philadelphia, the responsibility of pass game coordinator in 2019 and 2020.
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