4 possible Wink Martindale replacements if the NY Giants don't bring him back
By Zak Musso
![New York Giants defensive coordinator Don \"Wink\" Martindale on the first day of training camp at](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3549,h_1996,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F31%2F01hfdhezeva3cynkgrb3.jpg "New York Giants defensive coordinator Don \\"Wink\\" Martindale on the first day of training camp at")
Changes are coming for the NY Giants. Things have been a nightmare for the team this season and you already know that John Mara can't be happy with what he's seen out of the players, but also the coaching staff.
It seems unlikely the Giants will make a head coaching change, especially since each of New York's last three head coaches lasted two or fewer seasons. Mara will not axe another coach early, especially one who won the Coach of the Year award less than 12 months ago.
Joe Schoen has yet to put his full imprint on the team, as he has had to clean up many of Dave Gettleman's disasters. The longtime scout hasn't been a perfect general manager, but he deserves to get more time. With that said, rumors are flying both Mike Kafka AND Wink Martindale could be on their way out this offseason. If that's the case, here's a look at four potential defensive coordinators for Schoen and Brian Daboll to consider:
4. Andre Patterson
If Big Blue makes Martindale the fall man, they could opt to stay internal and promote defensive line coach Andre Patterson, one of the most respected defensive coaches in the NFL. Patterson came over to the Giants from Minnesota in 2022, serving as assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator, and defensive line coach under Mike Zimmer.
As soon as he arrived in New York in 2022, the Giants interior defenders began to bust out. Dexter Lawrence had many ups and downs during his first three seasons in New York, but broke out in 2022 and is now regarded as a consensus top-10 defensive player. Behind Lawrence, Patterson helped revitalize Leonard Williams, who the Giants were able to trade for a second and fifth-round pick, which is tremendous value.
Entering the season, ESPN's Mike Clay ranked the Giants d-line as the best in all football. That is all because of Patterson. After his Vikings defense struggled in his first year as co-defensive coordinator in 2020, he led a renaissance in 2021. The Vikings defense ranked 14th in football in 2021 and gave up under 100 rushing yards per game. Patterson was a defensive coordinator candidate around the league in 2022 and could be again this offseason. After all, the man has been coaching defensive football since 1982.