Michigan is in the process of finalizing a deal to bring aboard Wink Martindale, the former defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, as their new defensive coordinator, according to sources close to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The transition is expected to be smooth without any significant obstacles.
Martindale’s departure from the Giants in January paved the way for this move. Despite the Giants’ defensive ranking of 27th overall last season, they led the NFL in turnovers created, showcasing the strength of Martindale’s unit. ESPN Analytics rated the Giants’ defense 17th overall, surpassing the performance of their offense and special teams, which ranked 30th and 25th, respectively.
Martindale will step into the role previously held by Jesse Minter at Michigan. Minter recently left to become the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers under coach Jim Harbaugh. Minter played a crucial role in Michigan’s recent successes, including their first national title in 26 years, two Big Ten championships, and appearances in the College Football Playoff.
Interestingly, both Minter and Michigan’s former defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, implemented variations of Martindale’s defensive scheme, which should facilitate a smoother transition for the players compared to a completely different system.
