Wink Martindale may be under contract with Michigan, but he’s made it clear to those in charge: He’s still going to entertain NFL job interviews.
In January, the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator accepted interview requests from the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts, two franchises that had vacancies in the role this offseason.
Martindale never ended up landing either job, but he said recently on the “In the Trenches” podcast that he plans on listening to every opportunity that comes knocking.
“I said when I came here that this was an exciting time for me. It was different, obviously, going from the league back to college — but it would take a lot for me to go back to the NFL,” Martindale told podcast host and Michigan radio analyst Jon Jansen. “Really, I told both Warde (Manuel) and Sherrone (Moore) when I took this job that I would listen to anyone. I think where I’m at in my career, I deserve that right to do that.”
Martindale, who turns 62 in May, just wrapped his 32nd year coaching football. Much of that has been at the NFL level, where he’s been a defensive coach and coordinator, including recent stints with the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens.
He took the Michigan job last February, his first time coaching in the college ranks in more than two decades, signing a three-year, $7.5 million contract that made him one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the country.
“It’s one of those things where if things weren’t perfect anywhere or anything else, I’m just going to stay at Michigan,” Martindale said. “I do love it here. That’s not recruiting, that’s not anything else — I do love it here. And I love the players here. We had a lot of fun — especially towards the end of the year. I’m looking forward to starting that all over again.”
While Michigan experienced a drop off in the first year under head coach Sherrone Moore, finishing 8-5 and missing out on a fourth straight Big Ten title and College Football Playoff appearance, the defense got stronger under Martindale as the season wore on. The unit finished 10th nationally in total defense (307.0 yards allowed per game) while holding No. 8 Indiana to 20 points, eventual national champion Ohio State to just 10 points and No. 11 Alabama to just 13 points.
By the end of the season, Michigan had allowed just two touchdowns in its final 14 quarters of play.
“You need to play good, complementary football, play good defense and good offense, and we faced those challenges,” Martindale said. “It’s a different game because it’s spacier in college than it is in the NFL. You saw that we adjusted to that, and got a great coaching staff. Great coaching staff — all with coordinating experience. So it was a work in progress for both the players and coaches.”
But Martindale’s second season at Michigan might be more difficult than his first. The Wolverines lost five starters to the NFL draft, including three potential first-round picks in cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and must reload along the defensive line and improve in the secondary.
Michigan’s veteran defensive coordinator believes he has the personnel to do it.
“They’re already doing it,” Martindale said. “They’re watching tape, the vets are meeting with some of the younger guys. A lot of the younger guys are so hungry.
“The install is not going to change. Again, for the fourth year, we’re running the same defense.”