Ex-Ravens, Giants DC Wink Martindale reportedly interviewing for Michigan DC job

National Football League

Published Feb. 8, 2024 2:20 p.m. ET

Sherrone Moore may have taken over for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after the he left for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, but Moore is taking a page out of his former boss’s playbook when it comes to his most important assistant coach hire.

After Jesse Minter officially followed Harbaugh to the Chargers earlier this week, Moore appears to be going back to John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens defense to find the next Wolverines defensive coordinator. Michigan is reportedly interviewing former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale for the position, per multiple reports.

Martindale was Baltimore’s linebackers coach from 2012-2017 and defensive coordinator from 2018-2021, leading a staff that included Minter and Mike Macdonald as assistants. After parting ways with the Ravens in 2021 (following which now-Seattle Seahawks head coach Macdonald returned from Michigan to replace him), Martindale spent the past two seasons as New York Giants‘ defensive coordinator. He resigned in January amid reported friction with head coach Brian Daboll.

Martindale is considered one of the brightest defensive minds in football with a long, successful track record, though he has not worked in college football since 2003.

However, his last college job provides him with some familiarity that could help him land at Michigan. Martindale served as linebackers coach at Western Kentucky under then-head coach Jack Harbaugh — Jim and John’s father, who also served as Michigan associate head coach at points during Jim’s tenure in Ann Arbor.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen is also reportedly a candidate for the Michigan DC job.

FOLLOWFollow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

National Football League

College Football

Michigan Wolverines

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]