The New York Giants are sitting pretty now that they hired John Harbaugh, but the same can't be said for their cross-town rivals. The New York Jets' never-ending rebuild continued after trading two franchise cornerstones in season, while Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era looked like a complete and utter disaster.
The future is bright if they're able to get it right, but that's holding out a lot of hope. Their QB situation is in serious flux, and Gang Green is also looking hard for a defensive coordinator.
And reportedly, ex-Giants' DC Don "Wink" Martindale is one of the names that interviewed, and seems to be a favorite.
Of the many defensive coordinator openings available, the Jets' opening is one of the least desirable available. However, the 62-year-old coordinator has been itching for a return to the NFL since the Giants moved on from him, which has seen him spend the last two seasons calling plays for the University of Michigan.
The New York Jets are making a huge mistake if they hire ex-Giants DC Wink Martindale
Ironically enough, before landing with Big Blue, Martindale used to be Harbaugh's DC in Baltimore, but was ousted for a similar reason: he isn't the easiest person to work with. He and Brian Daboll did not like each other, and his departure led them to Shane Bowen, and we all know how this story ends.
The one thing that stands to benefit the Jets if they hire Wink is the fact that his heavy blitz rate often leads to turnovers. In 2025, the Jets ranked dead last in the NFL in takeaways and failed to even intercept a pass, so that number would surely skyrocket if they were to make him their next DC.
With Martindale helming the unit, the Giants led the NFL in takeaways in 2023, which was their defense's strong spot. The Jets need to bring in a mind who can create turnovers, but they shouldn't be desperate to the point where they are hiring someone who couldn't even land another NFL job.
He led strong defenses in Baltimore, New York, and during his time in college football with Michigan. However, he inherited much of the talent. After all, Jesse Minter was his predecessor in Ann Arbor, so while his defenses have consistently produced and he won't leave for a head coaching job, hiring Martindale comes with little risk and little reward.
Leonhard is presumably the candidate they covet, but he'll likely land elsewhere. It's smart for Glenn to target another experienced DC, but not one as polarizing as Martindale has been over the years.
If the Jets were smart (which they are not), they would learn from the Giants' mistakes.