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By Jordan Sigler
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On Dec. 15, the New York Jets fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks following a 48-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Jets head coach Aaron Glenn made the change just 14 games into his coaching tenure. Glenn appointed defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris the interim coordinator for the remainder of the regular season.
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The Jets defense finished the season ranked No. 31 in points allowed, giving up 29.6 points per game. The only team worse was the Dallas Cowboys (30.1), who fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after the season.
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New York became the first defense since the league started keeping records in 1933 to finish the season without creating an interception.
The defensive coordinator hire will be one of the most important decisions Glenn makes in his second offseason with the Jets. New York is coming off a disappointing season, finishing with a 3-14 record.
A source with ties to the Jets organization told Newsweek that the team has an extreme interest in Don "Wink" Martindale for their defensive coordinator position. Martindale seems to be a guy that has Glenn's ear.
Martindale, a former defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants, is a coach the Jets would covet for their defense in 2026, among others.
Martindale, 62, was not retained by new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham. The Wolverines ranked No. 29 in the country in points per game in 2025, allowing an average of 20.4 points per contest.
Martindale began his coaching career at Defiance College (where he played linebacker) as a defensive coordinator in 1986. He joined Notre Dame as an assistant in 1994.
Martindale made stops with Cincinnati, Western Illinois and Western Kentucky before taking his first job in the NFL, coaching linebackers with the Oakland Raiders in 2004. He won Super Bowl XLVII as a linebackers coach for the Ravens.
Martindale has familiarity with the New York area, becoming the Giants defensive coordinator in 2022.
The Giants and Martindale reportedly had a dramatic breakup following the 2023 season. Then-New York head coach Brian Daboll and the defensive coach mutually agreed to part ways after the season. ESPN analytics ranked the defense No. 17 for 2023.
Martindale is a well-respected defensive coach in the league, and could gain interest from other NFL teams during this hiring cycle.
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