Former New York Giants defensive end Jihad Ward left the team after the 2023 season, following the departure of Wink Martindale. He spent the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings and the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans.
While with the Titans, Ward played under Dennard Wilson, who was just reportedly hired as the Giants’ defensive coordinator.
As a veteran, Ward has played for seven different NFL teams, so he’s seen how differently teams run with different coaches. He knows what has worked, what hasn’t, and what the Giants can expect from Wilson.
“If you’re soft and not physical or smart, you will not play,” Ward, 31, who is headed to free agency, told the New York Daily News on Monday.
Ward also said that Wilson is fueled by the success of his players.
“He just wants you to ball!” Ward said.
This isn’t the first time Wilson has coached alongside John Harbaugh, either. The two spent 2023 on the same sideline when Wilson was Harbaugh’s defensive passing game coordinator. Plus, he thrives on the type of hard-nosed, physical, and relentless play that the Giants’ defense employs.
In his first season with the Titans, Wilson had the defense ranked near the top of the NFL. And, despite it seeming like the defense faltered in 2025, the Titans’ run defense allowed 4.5 yards per carry in 2024, and in 2025, they improved to 4.3 yards per carry.
The Giants’ defense is full of talented players who just need the right scheme to succeed. Wilson’s scheme fits in New York, and fans should be excited.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jihad Ward on Giants’ Dennard Wilson: ‘If you’re soft, you won’t play’
