The Jets’ search for a new defensive coordinator has reached the in person interview stage. Former Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will meet with the team on Saturday per Connor Hughes of SNY.
Martindale ran the defense at the University of Michigan the last two years under head coach Sherrone Moore. After Moore’s firing, he was not retained by new head coach Kyle Whittingham.
He is a long-time assistant in the NFL. From 2004 through 2023 he served various positions with the Raiders, Broncos, Ravens, and Giants. This includes stints as the defensive coordinator in Baltimore from 2018 through 2021 and New York in 2022 and 2023.
Martindale likes to run an aggressive scheme, heavy on blitzing and man to man coverage. This meshes with the sort of defense Aaron Glenn likes to run, although in recent years there have been critiques that his system has become a tad outdated and too easy for modern offenses to exploit.
A number of reports have suggested that Martindale is a favorite to land the job.