After just one season at Michigan, former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale could be on his way back to the NFL.
On Tuesday, the 61-year-old Martindale met with the Atlanta Falcons and he will follow that up with a Thursday interview in Indianapolis.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Cincinnati Bengals could also get into the mix for Martindale.
Martindale headed to the college ranks after an ugly divorce with the Giants last year. He and head coach Brian Daboll had a very public blow-up that led to a “resignation” shortly thereafter.
The rift between Daboll and Martindale had been brewing for months despite the team’s insistence that there were no issues and that all reporting to the contrary was erroneous.
In early November, Martindale, who is the highest-paid coordinator in college football, threw a little unprovoked shade at the Giants and Daboll, who were 2-7 at the time.
“I’m glad I’m here,” Martindale said. “I love the players that we have. Obviously, it’s a different game (in college), but it’s a lot better than being in some places that are 2-7.”
Although Michigan underwhelmed this season, Martindale’s defense did hold Ohio State to 10 points before limiting SEC powerhouse Alabama to just 13 points in the Reliaquest Bowl.
If Martindale were to land one of those three jobs, he would not see the Giants in 2025. None are currently scheduled to play New York until the Indianapolis Colts in 2026 and the Falcons in 2027.
