“Former Giants Defensive Coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale Set for Two-Day Interview with Jacksonville Jaguars”
Following Ian Rapoport’s suggestion on NFL Network about a potential link between ex-Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale and the Jaguars, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has verified that Martindale is set for a two-day interview with the team this week. Martindale is expected to be in Duval on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the vacant defensive coordinator position.
After the Jaguars let go of defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and the rest of the team’s defensive staff following Caldwell’s initial two years in the coordinator role, the Jacksonville defense produced mediocre outcomes, finishing 12th and 17th in points allowed and 24th and 22nd in yards allowed under Caldwell’s leadership. These results hindered the 2022 Jaguars offense, ranked in the top 10, from progressing beyond the divisional round of the playoffs. Furthermore, the 2023 Jaguars offense, placed in the top 14, failed to reach the playoffs altogether.
Since Caldwell’s departure, numerous names have surfaced as potential candidates for the vacant position. Although the team faced obstacles in interviewing current Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen earlier in the week, they have secured interviews with Ravens secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt, Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, Titans cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator Chris Harris, and Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel.
Include Martindale in the list of candidates. Martindale commenced his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach, spending five years with the Raiders before assuming the same role with the Broncos. Denver later promoted him to defensive coordinator under Josh McDaniels, but Martindale wasn’t retained when John Fox took over the following year. He then joined the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl-winning team as the linebackers coach, a position he held for six years before eventually succeeding Dean Pees as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator.
During his initial three years overseeing the Ravens defense, Baltimore consistently boasted a top-five defense, frequently contending for the league lead in points or yards allowed. However, 2021 proved to be an aberration as the team’s defense finished 19th in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed. Whether this lack of success was attributed to injuries to key players like cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters and safety DeShon Elliott or other factors, Martindale and the Ravens decided to part ways.
Several weeks later, Martindale assumed the role of defensive coordinator with the Giants. In the past two years, New York’s defensive performance ranked 18th and 26th in points allowed and 25th and 27th in yards allowed. Dissatisfied with the output of someone who had formerly been a top defensive coordinator in the league, the Giants, led by head coach Brian Daboll, decided to part ways with Martindale. News of the separation surfaced days after reports of a multiday standoff, during which Martindale reportedly exchanged heated words with Daboll before storming out of the building.
Martindale will now join the pool of potential candidates to replace Caldwell in Jacksonville, competing against a currently less-experienced field of candidates. However, the Jaguars might lean towards someone with a less complex history and fewer issues.
