Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale may not have received a job in the first round of NFL interviews, but the coaching cycle is still underway. Here are some of the places Martindale could still get a look:
The Michigan Wolverines appeared to dodge a bullet when Wink Martindale was not hired by the Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons in the past few weeks. However, as the NFL coaching carousel continues to circle, it feels like Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines aren’t out of the deep end quite yet.
Here are a few teams that could have interest in Martindale:
New Orleans Saints
Over the weekend, there was a report about some possible interest in Wink if the Saints hire Mike Fafka, who worked with Martindale in New York.
Interesting tidbit on this: If Mike Kafka gets the Saints job multiple league sources expect him to bring Wink Martindale as his defensive coordinator. They obviously worked together with the Giants and were key to the initial success in 2022. https://t.co/0hwUBo2THA
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 26, 2025
Many expect Kafka to give Martindale a call if he winds up getting the head coaching job with the Saints, and with the ties that the two have, it would make sense for the veteran coach to head back to the pros in this situation. Michigan fans should be hoping the Saints hire someone else.
Las Vegas Raiders
Despite a strong tie to Kafka, Martindale’s strongest interest may be with the Raiders. The longtime defensive coordinator was a linebackers coach with the franchise from 2004-08 and had a great relationship with owner Mark Davis. Tom Brady — who now owns a percentage of the Raiders — and Martindale obviously both have ties to Michigan and competed against each other many times in the NFL dating back to 2010. Pete Carroll being the franchise’s new head coach shows the Raiders are trying to go old school, and Martindale would certainly fit that vibe from a defensive perspective. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is on a shortlist.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen was hired by the Jaguars last week after a tumultuous process, and a first time head coach almost always looks for a coordinator — regardless of which side of the ball its on — with a ton of experience, and Martindale certainly fits that mold. In Tampa Bay, Coen always had a very aggressive defense to help bolster the offensive side. If Coen wants his defense to have a similar demeanor, Martindale would make a lot of sense.
Martindale’s experience and success will continue to draw attention from NFL teams. As long as he is wearing the maize and blue, interviews with professional teams should be expected.