Michigan Expected to Hire Ex-Giants Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale

New Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore wanted ‘a head coach for defense.’

Michigan is adding a veteran NFL assistant as its new defensive coordinator. Former New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens DC Don “Wink” Martindale is expected to oversee the defense for the national champion Wolverines, according to 247Sports’ Sam Webb. 

Martindale, 60, interviewed with head coach Sherrone Moore in Ann Arbor on Thursday and reportedly also met with players during his visit. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Martindale’s contract with Michigan hasn’t yet been finalized, but no issues are anticipated. 

Don “Wink” Martindale was the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons :: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

As a first-time head coach, Moore wanted an experienced coordinator to be “a head coach on defense,” which is why he looked outside the Michigan staff for NFL candidates. Michigan also pursued Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, but he did not want to interview until after the Super Bowl.

Martindale has coached in the pros for the past 20 years, also overseeing the Denver Broncos’ defense prior to his stints with the Ravens and Giants. He last coached in college in 2003 at Western Kentucky, where he worked for three years under Jack Harbaugh.

The veteran coach replaces Jesse Minter, who followed Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers. Most important to Moore was maintaining continuity for Michigan’s defense. Martindale helped design the schemes the Wolverines utilize while he coached on John Harbaugh’s Ravens staff. 

Mike Macdonald, now the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, was an assistant under Martindale before running Michigan’s defense in 2021. Minter had been Michigan’s DC for the past two seasons and worked on the Baltimore staff for four years. 

Martindale was the Giants’ defensive coordinator from 2022-23, but reportedly clashed with head coach Brian Daboll and left the staff after the regular season concluded. He was also a candidate for the Dallas Cowboys’ DC opening, which was filled by Mike Zimmer on Thursday.