Don Martindale
refer to caption
Martindale at Arlington Memorial Amphitheater in 2017
Personal information
Born: (1963-05-19) May 19, 1963
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Career information
High school:Trotwood-Madison (OH)
College:Defiance College
Career history
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Coaching stats at PFR

Don "Wink" Martindale[1] (born May 19, 1963) is an American football coach who most recently served as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) from 2022 to the end of the 2023 season. From 2018 to 2022, he held the same position for the Baltimore Ravens after spending the previous six seasons as the team's linebackers coach.[2]

Early years

Don Martindale was born on May 19, 1963, in Dayton, Ohio. Martindale attended Trotwood-Madison High School where he played linebacker for the Trotwood-Madison Rams and was an All-State selection his senior year.[3]

He is an alumnus of Defiance College, where he played on the football team. He got his nickname during his freshman year, when one of his teammates called him "Wink" after the longtime TV game show host, Wink Martindale.[4]

Right after college, Martindale took a job with his family's trucking company, hauling brake parts every day from Dayton, Ohio, to Detroit. It was a grueling six hour drive round-trip and he hated it, so he quit after a year to pursue his passion for coaching football.[5]

Coaching career

College

Martindale started his coaching career in the late 1980s at his alma mater, Defiance College, as an assistant for the Yellow Jackets.[6] Martindale also coached for three seasons at Western Kentucky University on the staff of Jack Harbaugh. He also coached for three years at the University of Cincinnati, and in 1994 and 1995 was a defensive assistant at Notre Dame for teams that went to the Fiesta Bowl and Orange Bowl.

Oakland Raiders

From 2004 to 2008 he was the linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders and was at one time under consideration to be their defensive coordinator.[7]

Denver Broncos

In 2009, Martindale was hired by the Denver Broncos as their linebackers coach. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2010.

Baltimore Ravens

On February 2, 2012, the Ravens signed Martindale as linebackers coach.[3] He had worked for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's father, Jack, when he was an assistant at Western Kentucky.

Martindale was part of the Ravens' coaching staff that won Super Bowl XLVII.[8] In 2018, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.[9] On January 21, 2022, Martindale and the Ravens parted ways.[10]

New York Giants

Martindale was hired on February 11, 2022, by the New York Giants to be their defensive coordinator.[11] In his first season, the Giants improved from having the 23rd ranked defense in 2021,[12] to the 18th in 2022.[13]

On May 22, 2023, Martindale was honored with the 2023 Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman Award, which is presented for lifetime achievement as an NFL assistant coach.[14] That season, the team finished 6-11, while their defense fell to 27th in the league.[15] Despite their struggles, the Giants were the 9th-ranked third down defense.[15]

On January 10, 2024, the Giants and Martindale "agreed to part ways."[16]

Personal life

Martindale and his wife, Laura, have two children.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Wink gets the Call - Martindale to lead Broncos defense
  2. ↑ Martindale replaces Nolan in Denver
  3. 1 2 "DON MARTINDALE" (PDF). ravenspr.com. Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Five Things to Know About Don 'Wink' Martindale".
  5. ↑ Hensley, Jamison (December 5, 2018). "An ex-truck driver, Wink Martindale steers NFL's No. 1 defense". ESPN. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Former Defiance College Product Set to Coach in Super Bowl". defianceathletics.com. Defiance College. February 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  7. ↑ Smith, Michael (January 19, 2009). "Sources: Raiders consider Martindale". espn.con. ESPN. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ Mink, Ryan (January 9, 2018). "Ravens Hire Don 'Wink' Martindale as Next Defensive Coordinator". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ Scott, Jelani (January 21, 2022). "Ravens part ways with DC Don 'Wink' Martindale". NFL.com. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Mike Kafka, Don Martindale, Thomas McGaughey named Giants coordinators". Giants.com.
  12. ↑ "2021 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC.
  13. ↑ "2022 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". pro-football-reference.com. Sports-Reference, LLC. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ Eisen, Michael. "Giants Now: Wink Martindale honored with lifetime achievement award". giants.com. New York Giants. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "2023 NFL Defense Rankings: Team Pass and Rush Stats". foxsports.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ Shook, Nick (January 10, 2024). "Giants, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale mutually agree to part ways after two seasons". NFL. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Don Martindale Bio". baltimoreravens.com. Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
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