Here's why the New York Jets' next defensive coordinator choice is so obvious for the struggling organization.
As the 2025-26 NFL season slowly begins to die down, the New York Jets will now focus on the offseason.
One of the most important issues that general manager Darren Mougey must address this offseason is the defense, which was one of the worst in the NFL last season. Under former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the Jets’ defense failed to record a single turnover, which ultimately led to his time ending with the struggling franchise.
Last week, it was announced that the Jets have completed eight different interviews for the defensive coordinator position in 2026. The list includes multiple highly-regarded names, such as Miami Dolphins' cornerback coach Mathieu Araujo and Denver Broncos’ defensive pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Jim Leonhard.
However, there was one name that had stuck out amongst the eight candidates due to his rich coaching history at both the NFL and college level. Former Michigan Wolverines and New York Giants’ defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was the most prominent name to interview for the position, as he has over 20 years of experience at the professional level.
Martindale received his first NFL coaching gig back in 2004 as the Oakland Raiders' linebackers coach.
While many believed that former general manager Al Davis would consider promoting him to become the team’s next head coach, Martindale would never receive this opportunity and would eventually be hired by the Denver Broncos in 2009 as the organization’s linebackers coach.
After one season with the Broncos, Martindale was promoted to the defensive coordinator position in 2010, but would spend just one season at the position before being fired.
Luckily for the veteran coach, it would only be two years later until he would be back to coaching in the NFL, as the Baltimore Ravens would hire him to be the linebackers coach under former head coach John Harbaugh. Martindale proved to be a perfect addition to the coaching staff, which led to his promotion to the defensive coordinator position in 2018.
Throughout his time with the organization, Martindale played a massive role in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII in 2013, coaching the likes of legendary linebacker Ray Lewis during the season.
With a Super Bowl Championship under his belt, Martindale would make two more stops as a defensive coordinator in his coaching career with the New York Giants for two seasons, along with one season at the college level with Michigan.
Now, the Jets have an opportunity to hire an experience coordinator that has a strong track record as a coach this offseason.
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