Giants DC Dennard Wilson reveals father's death before Rams loss

New York's defensive coordinator explained his absence from Friday's practice and declined to use the personal loss as a reason for the team's 28-6 defeat.

New York Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson told reporters on Thursday that his father passed away last Friday morning, which is why he was absent from the team's practice that day. Speaking from the podium ahead of Thursday's session, Wilson said he lost "my hero and my dad" and had to leave the facility.

Wilson said his heart was heavy but expressed gratitude to the organization, the coaching staff, the players, and his family and friends for supporting him and his family through the loss. He singled out the players for the backing they have given him.

The Giants then traveled west and fell to the Los Angeles Rams 28-6 on Monday night. The game also saw injuries to Jaxson Dart, Brian Burns, and Andrew Thomas, compounding a difficult night for the franchise. Wilson made clear his personal situation was not an explanation for the result.

"There is no excuse for the way we played," Wilson said. He said the Giants did not play fundamentally sound football and that a well-coached team like the Rams will hurt an opponent that lacks attention to detail, which led to the explosive plays New York allowed. He added that the team needs to fix its own problems first and believes it will play better going forward once those issues are corrected.

Through two games, the Giants have managed just one sack. Wilson acknowledged the defense wants more, saying the pressures have been good but the unit wants to get the quarterback on the ground. He credited the Rams' plan, including chippers and Matthew Stafford getting the ball out quickly, and expressed hope that sacks will start coming in bunches.

New York hosts the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The matchup carries personal significance for Wilson, who served as Tennessee's defensive coordinator the previous two seasons. The Titans' offense has struggled early, sitting near the bottom of the league in several key categories through two games.