Under new coach Sherrone Moore, Michigan is searching for a new defensive coordinator as Jim Harbaugh follows Jesse Minter to the Los Angeles Chargers. But instead of elevating from within, the Wolverines are expressing interest in a few NFL candidates. Don “Wink” Martindale, a former DC for the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, is a candidate for Michigan’s position, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. After allegedly having disagreements with head coach Brian Daboll, the seasoned assistant who had overseen the Giants’ defense for the previous two seasons quit the team after the regular season ended.
Given that Martindale, 60, has spent the last 20 years working in the NFL, he might seem like an odd option for Michigan. Since 2003, when he worked for three years under Jack Harbaugh at Western Kentucky, he has not served as a college coach. But for the last three seasons, the defensive concepts he created while working with the Ravens have served as the foundation for coach John Harbaugh’s Wolverines. After serving as an assistant to Martindale, Mike Macdonald coached Michigan’s defense in 2021 before taking the helm as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Minter, a four-year Baltimore staff member, was Michigan’s DC for the previous two seasons.
In addition to Martindale, Joe Cullen, the defensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, who spent five years on the Ravens’ staff, is another NFL assistant that Michigan is considering. There are rumors that Martindale is also a contender for the DC position with the Dallas Cowboys.
