New person of interest emerges in Michigan football DC search: insiders

As new Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore continues to finish building his staff for the 2024 season, a new name has emerged in his search, as former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will meet with the Wolverines to discuss the position on Thursday, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

Martindale spent nearly a decade serving as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens under head coach John Harbaugh, and it’s that production in particular that leaves him a person of interest for Michigan.

Martindale, a native of Dayton, Ohio, was on the Ravens’ defensive staff when the franchise won Super Bowl XLVII following the 2012 NFL season.

He improved the Giants’ defense from 23rd in the league to 18th in 2022, but that average fell to 27th out of 32 teams during this past season. Martindale and the Giants agreed to part ways after the 2023 campaign.

CowboysSI.com’s Mike Fisher reported that the Dallas Cowboys are also expressing interest in Martindale as they search out a veteran to replace outgoing defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who took the Commanders’ head coaching position.

As for Michigan, there is still continued interest in Joe Cullen, considered by insiders to be the favorite for the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator position, and the current defensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, set to appear in Super Bowl LVIII this Sunday.

Whoever takes the position will be charged with rebooting a Michigan defense that ranked No. 1 in college football in total production and scoring during its national championship run in 2023.

But its mastermind, Jesse Minter, is leaving the program to serve the same role under former Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, now with the Los Angeles Chargers.