Wink Martindale to Michigan: Former NY Giants defensive coordinator leaves NFL for Big Ten
Wink Martindale won't be facing the New York Giants this season despite plenty of rumors that his next stop as defensive coordinator would be in the NFC East.
Instead, Martindale is apparently headed back to college where he will run the defense for the national champion Michigan Wolverines, according to a report from ESPN on Friday morning.
Martindale spoke with the Jaguars, Eagles, Cowboys and Packers about their vacancies at DC in the aftermath of his messy exit from the Giants due to a relationship with Giants head coach Brian Daboll that deteriorated over the course of this past season.
He did not land any of those jobs, and with Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, taking his DC Jesse Minter for the same role, new Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore needed someone to run his defense.
The Giants announced three days after their 2023 season ended with an upset victory over the Eagles that the team and their defensive coordinator had "mutually agreed to part ways."
Martindale had been expected to resign after two seasons with the Giants, two individuals with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NorthJersey.com earlier this week.
The formal announcement came amid reports of a rocky relationship between Martindale and Daboll. The sides reached the compromise to expedite Martindale's exit that served as a divorce between the 60-year-old coordinator and the team.
The Giants have since hired Shane Bowen as DC, replacing Martindale.
The Giants ranked 27th in total defense this past season under Martindale and 26th in points allowed per game at 23.9.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wink Martindale to Michigan: Former NY Giants defensive coordinator leaves NFL
