New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale wasn’t happy with recent personnel changes, and he reportedly didn’t hold back his thoughts toward head coach Brian Daboll.
According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, after Daboll fired outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, Martindale was so angry that he “cursed out Daboll, said his piece, got up, slammed the door, and walked out of the building.” He reportedly has “notified those close to him he planned to resign,” though the team has yet to be notified of his resignation.
Schwartz noted that Martindale is under contract for the 2024 season with a salary of $3 million, which he would forfeit if he resigned. Daboll said during his press conference on Monday that his “expectation” was that Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka would return in 2024, but that was before he met with Martindale.
Wilkins was described as Martindale’s “most loyal confidant.” In addition to his firing, his younger brother Kevin, a defensive assistant, was also let go. Schwartz illustrated how important Wilkins was to Martindale’s game plan.
“On the sideline, it is Drew Wilkins helping Martindale with the personnel groupings and directing traffic for him,” Schwartz stated. “Drew Wilkins helps Martindale devise the defensive schemes.”
However, there was reportedly a feeling within the Giants organization that “Martindale and Drew Wilkins were creating their own fiefdom within the coaching staff, at times bypassing Daboll and believing they had to answer only to each other and, ultimately, ownership.”
Special teams coach Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson were also dismissed after a disappointing season for the Giants in which they finished with a 6-11 record.
All signs point to Martindale joining them in their departures from New York, but it remains to be seen when the move will be official.
