Aaron Glenn, after a disappointing first season at the helm of the New York Jets, will certainly be looking to make some changes to his staff this offseason.
First things first, a new defensive coordinator.
Steve Wilks, who was fired after New York’s 48-20 blowout loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was hired with the right thought process.
Glenn wanted experience on his staff in his first year as a head coach, but Wilks was nothing short of a disaster.
The Jets were ranked dead last in defense according to Sumer Sports’ EPA/Play, including 32nd against the pass and 25th against the run.
Now, New York needs a fresh voice as their defensive coordinator, and they reportedly have “extreme interest” in a former New York Giants defensive coordinator who has spent the last few years in the college ranks.
Jets Interested in Hiring Wink Martindale
According to a new report from Newsweek’s Jordan Sigler, the New York Jets are seriously considering hiring Michigan’s Wink Martindale as their next defensive coordinator, after not being retained by the Wolverines’ new head coach, Kyle Whittingham.
“A source with ties to the Jets organization told Newsweek that the team has an extreme interest in Don ‘Wink’ Martindale for their defensive coordinator position,” reported Sigler.
“Martindale seems to be a guy that has Glenn’s ear.”
Martindale is an experienced NFL defensive coordinator, having coached the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Giants.
His most recent stop with the Giants was fairly successful. Martindale’s defense was a major reason why Big Blue returned to the postseason in 2022.
In his first season on the job in New York, he was able to improve the Giants‘ 23rd-ranked defense in 2021 to 18th in 2022, showing he can squeeze some more out of his players than other defensive coaches.
In 2023, the defense dropped all the way down to 27th in the league, but there may have been some extenuating circumstances behind the scenes between Martindale and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
That’s the only real concern surrounding a fit between the Jets and Martindale. Can he and Glenn find a shared vision and message?
Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale’s Messy Breakup
If the New York Jets are serious about Martindale as their next defensive coordinator, Glenn needs to make sure the two can get along before putting pen to paper.
Martindale’s time with the New York Giants ended messily and abruptly, thanks to a souring relationship with Daboll.
“The New York Post reported that Martindale ‘said his piece, got up, slammed the door and walked out of the building’ after the Giants fired outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins,” reported ESPN’s Giants insider Jordan Raanan in January 2024.
“The rocky relationship between Daboll and Martindale is at the center of an impending split. It was reported in November that the two were in a ‘bad place.'”
To avoid a repeat of the situation that ended Martindale’s tenure in New York the first time, Glenn should make sure he and the energetic defensive coordinator are on the same page before making any hire.
Then, maybe Martindale can be the guy to come in and jumpstart a lethargic Jets defense.
Jets Have ‘Extreme Interest’ in Hiring Former Ravens DC: Report