Giants coach Brian Daboll said Monday morning he expected defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to return in 2024.
But Daboll said he had yet to speak with Martindale. Daboll’s words seemingly left the ball in Martindale’s court, for whether he wanted to return.
And on Monday afternoon, news emerged — via NFL Network — that Martindale had resigned.
So Daboll — an offensive-minded head coach — will need a new defensive coordinator in 2024 after all. (Click here for a rundown of some potential candidates.) Because of Daboll’s offensive background, he will need a strong defensive coordinator to run that side of things.
But how many highly sought after candidates will want to come work for Daboll, who enters Year 3 on the hot seat — and with a reputation for having a tense relationship with his previous defensive coordinator, Martindale?
Daboll can at least say he tried to make things work with Martindale, since he didn’t fire him. But how far will that narrative fly with candidates?
After all, Martindale’s resignation was immediately preceded Monday by the firing of his right-hand man, outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins. His firing clearly pointed toward a likely Martindale departure. And sure enough, Martindale is departing — via a resignation.
Meanwhile, Martindale could be in the mix for head coaching openings this offseason. But it seems likelier he will be a defensive coordinator elsewhere next season.
Either way, him quitting comes as little surprise, given the November report from Fox Sports about his fractured relationship with Daboll — a report that mentioned Martindale could be a goner (either via firing or resignation) even before the end of the season.
As it turned out, Martindale lasted one day past the end of 6-11 season with the Giants — his second year in East Rutherford.
Meanwhile, Daboll said earlier Monday that he also expected offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to return in 2024, though Daboll did not commit to whether Kafka…
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