The New York Giants have made a key addition to their defensive coaching staff, and it’s a name that should give fans a little more confidence in the direction things are heading. After a turbulent stretch that saw multiple staffers jump ship to Cleveland, the Giants rebounded with a strong hire-bringing in Donald D’Alesio, a rising defensive mind with championship pedigree, to coach the defensive backs.
D’Alesio, just 33 years old, comes to East Rutherford after a stint with the Baltimore Ravens, where he worked under John Harbaugh and helped guide a talented secondary that included the likes of Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins. Now, he reunites with his former head coach-this time with the Giants-as part of a defensive staff that’s being quietly but deliberately rebuilt.
This move follows the earlier hiring of Dennard Wilson as defensive coordinator, a signal that the Giants are putting a premium on the back end of their defense. In today’s NFL, where quarterbacks are slinging it more than ever, having a sharp, modern mind overseeing the secondary isn’t a luxury-it’s a necessity. And D’Alesio brings exactly that.
Let’s talk résumé. Before his time in Baltimore, D’Alesio was part of Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City, where he helped the Chiefs win back-to-back Super Bowls.
He spent four seasons with the team, coaching safeties for the final three years. During that stretch, he worked closely with Juan Thornhill and Justin Reid-two players who elevated their games under his watch.
In 2022, Thornhill posted a career-best season as the Chiefs captured Super Bowl LVII. The following year, Kansas City’s defense ranked second in the NFL in scoring and fourth against the pass, allowing just 176.5 passing yards per game.
Reid, meanwhile, racked up a career-high 95 tackles during that Super Bowl run. And in 2024, the Chiefs were again top-five in scoring defense, with Bryan Cook setting personal bests in both tackles and interceptions.
That kind of consistent production across multiple seasons and personnel groups speaks volumes about D’Alesio’s ability to develop talent and get results.
Now, he inherits a Giants secondary with potential but plenty of question marks. The group is expected to be led by Paulson Adebo, Jevón Holland, Tyler Nubin, and potentially Cor'Dale Flott. It’s a step down in terms of proven star power compared to what D’Alesio had in Baltimore or Kansas City, but it’s also an opportunity to mold a young group and help them grow into something formidable.
To be clear, this doesn’t fix everything overnight. The Giants still have holes to fill and decisions to make, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But after a few missteps in the coaching carousel, bringing in someone with D’Alesio’s experience and track record feels like a much-needed course correction.
Pairing him with Wilson could be the start of a strong foundation for a defense that’s been searching for stability. If these two can get the secondary playing with confidence and discipline, the Giants might finally have a unit that can hold its own in a league where stopping the pass is more important than ever.
So while there’s still work to be done, this hire is a win. And for a team that’s been searching for the right pieces, it’s a sign that the Giants might be starting to figure it out.