Giants HC Brian Daboll's 'plan' disrupted with DC's abrupt resignation
Only hours after New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said it was his "expectation" that both defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka would be back with the team next season, one of the two abruptly resigned.
Martindale's decision also comes on the heels of the firings of both outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and his brother, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins earlier on Monday. The departures of Martindale and the Wilkins brothers are just three of many coaching changes Giants fans have seen in their young offseason.
According to a report by Charlotte Carroll and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Wilkins brothers are "close" to Martindale, which made the latter's resignation far from a surprise, despite Daboll's words.
The report added that while New York's 6-11 finish and 26th-ranked defense made Martindale's exit "possible, if not likely," there was probably more to the decision.
"But, of course, this move goes well beyond numbers and has more to do with the fractured relationship between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll," the report said. "Their tumultuous relationship made headlines in Week 12 when Fox’s Jay Glazer reported ahead of the Patriots game that Daboll and Martindale were in a 'bad place.' Glazer added that he didn’t see the duo continuing their relationship after the season and that they might even split up before that point. While Martindale stuck out the year, that report hung in the air for the remainder of the season."
ESPN's Jordan Raanan further solidified the argument that Martindale's resignation had to do with his relationship with Daboll, writing on social media that it was a "big part of the divorce."
The 60-year-old has never been a head coach, but he has held three defensive coordinator positions. After five seasons as a linebackers coach with the Oakland Raiders from 2004-08, Martindale joined the Denver Broncos in the same role.
He was promoted to defensive coordinator of the Broncos for the 2010 campaign and then joined the Baltimore Ravens as a linebackers coach in 2012, earning a Super Bowl ring that season. Martindale held that title in Baltimore for six seasons and then was the team's defensive coordinator from 2018-2021 before landing with the Giants.
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