While Chiefs DL coach Joe Cullen is rumored to be a candidate for the DC job in Ann Arbor, another NFL assistant with quite a history, is mentioned as a candidate. Don ‘Wink’ Martindale, who recently was the Giants’ DC (and before that was the Ravens’ DC), is rumored to be a favorite for Jesse Minter’s old job.
In addition to Joe Cullen, another NFL coach on the radar as a person of interest for the Michigan defensive coordinator job is ex-Ravens and Giants DC Wink Martindale, sources tell @247sports.
Martindale was with the Ravens from 2012-21. Was the Giants’ DC the last two years.… pic.twitter.com/qy9fGk1rmK
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 6, 2024
Martingale has quite a history coaching:
Martindale has been the Giants DC since 2022. In Martindale’s first year in New York, the Giants ranked fifth on third down (35.1 percent) and fifth in red zone touchdown rate (49.2 percent).
Prior to the Giants, Martindale was the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 2018-2021 and the Ravens’ linebackers coach from 2012-2017. Martindale began his NFL coaching career in 2004 as the Oakland Raiders’ linebackers coach, a post he held until 2008. He was the Denver Broncos’ linebackers coach in 2009 and defensive coordinator in 2010 before being hired by head coach John Harbaugh with the Ravens.
Martindale also has had coaching stops across several levels of college football, starting as a secondary coach and defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Defiance College (1986-1987). He also served as a defensive assistant at Notre Dame (1994-1995), defensive ends and special teams coordinator/linebackers at Cincinnati (1996-1998), defensive coordinator/linebackers at Western Illinois (1999) and special teams coordinator/inside linebackers and defensive coordinator/inside linebackers at Western Kentucky (2001-2003). Martindale also coached high school football in Ohio from 1988-1993.
