It is recommended that Wink Martindale inform the Giants if he has resigned from his role as defensive coordinator.
Martindale rushed out of the building on Monday and was on a plane Tuesday morning, taking off for his Florida home. As of Tuesday evening, the team had not heard from him.
After two seasons, it’s evident that Martindale and the Giants are done, with visible indications that Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll suffered through a failing relationship that was unsustainable.
For the 2024 season, Martindale is owed $3 million under the terms of his contract.
If he does truly resign, he will lose that money.
He also just keeps his contract in place even if he resigns.
If Martindale resigned, the Giants could keep him from taking a position with another team, which is something he does not want to be involved in.
Therefore, before Martindale and the Giants part ways, the legal repercussions of his intensely emotional reaction to Daboll sacking his most devoted confidant, outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, as well as his younger brother Kevin, a defensive assistant, need to be resolved.
Wearing a black sleeveless vest, a Yankees cap, and his signature black joggers, Martindale was photographed boarding a trip to Sarasota at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday morning.
Heading home is not the normal course of action for an NFL coach two days after the end of a season. This is the time for staff meetings and final evaluations, responsibilities Martindale no longer believes he is obligated to complete.
In an early Monday morning press conference, one day after concluding a 6-11 campaign, Daboll stated that he “expected” Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to return in 2024.
Since Daboll was aware of the information he was going to share, the “expectation” was hazy as this was before he met with Martindale.
According to those within the building who knew about the issue, this is what transpired:
Daboll informed Martindale of impending staff changes during their Monday meeting.
Daboll brought up the firings of offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and special teams coach Thomas McGaughey.
There is no denying Daboll and Johnson have a tight relationship. Although Daboll found this decision difficult, he believed it was essential for the team’s future success.
Martindale was informed by Daboll that while he wanted him to stay, the Wilkins brothers would be fired.
Martindale took his brother and Drew Wilkins from the Ravens to the Giants.
Drew Wilkins is assisting Martindale on the sidelines by controlling traffic and assisting with personnel groupings.
Martindale collaborates with Drew Wilkins, a strong position coach, to develop the defensive strategies.
Enraged by this news, Martindale yelled at Daboll, finished his sentence, stood up, slammed the door, and left the building.
He announced his resignation to people who knew him well.
The Giants had not heard from Martindale more than twenty-four hours later.
Why did Daboll feel so strongly that he had to fire both Drew and Kevin Wilkins?
Inside the facility, there was a sense that Martindale and Drew Wilkins were carving out a separate territory for themselves among the coaching staff, avoiding Daboll at times and thinking they just had each other and ownership to answer to.
This was not the kind of teamwork that Daboll is all about.
Although not very dominant, Martindale’s team of 60 players was very well-liked by them, and they frequently outperformed Daboll’s offense.
That also created conflict.
The 49-17 loss in Dallas in Week 10 caused further pressure in the Daboll-Martindale relationship both during and after the game.
Daboll implemented a cautious game plan throughout, figuring that to have any realistic chance of winning, all three phases of the team—offensive, defense, and special teams—would need to perform well with a ball-control mentality. Tommy DeVito, the rookie quarterback, was starting his first game in the NFL. The Giants’ defensive backfield was severely weakened; cornerback Adoree’ Jackson was sidelined, and Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott were forced to leave due to injury. Martindale persisted in his pressure package regimen, ignoring the plan.
The outcome was ugly: Michael Gallup scored a 41-yard touchdown pass, Brandin Cooks caught nine passes for 173 yards, CeeDee Lamb caught 11 passes for 152 yards, and the Giants gave up a horrifying 640 yards—the second-highest amount of yards allowed in franchise history and the most yards the Cowboys had ever amassed in a game.
The Giants were behind 28-0 at the half in Dallas, and there looked to be a heated argument between Daboll and Martindale. Daboll then claimed that they were talking about “coverages.” A few weeks later, the Daboll-Martindale relationship was described as being “in a bad place” in a Fox pregame story. With the Patriots downed 10-7, Daboll officially refuted the allegation and gave Martindale the game ball.
Martindale was personally questioned twice by Daboll over the report; neither time was an explanation provided.
Daboll entered a defensive staff meeting and said, citing the story, that anyone who had a problem with him should come forward.
Nobody raised their voice.
The Giants will be looking to replace their current defensive coordinator.
Martindale departed Baltimore following a falling out with head coach John Harbaugh. That was the case with Daboll and the Giants once more.
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