.jpg) Martindale with theMichigan Wolverines in 2024 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1963-05-19)May 19, 1963 (age 62) Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1985 | Defiance |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1986–1987 | Defiance (DC) |
| 1994–1995 | Notre Dame (assistant) |
| 1996–1998 | Cincinnati (STC/LB) |
| 1999 | Western Illinois (DC/LB) |
| 2000–2003 | Western Kentucky (DC/ILB) |
| 2004–2008 | Oakland Raiders (LB) |
| 2009 | Denver Broncos (LB) |
| 2010 | Denver Broncos (DC) |
| 2012–2017 | Baltimore Ravens (LB) |
| 2018–2021 | Baltimore Ravens (DC) |
| 2022–2023 | New York Giants (DC) |
| 2024–2025 | Michigan (DC) |
Don "Wink"Martindale[1] (born May 19, 1963) is an Americanfootball coach. He served as the Defensive Coordinator at theUniversity of Michigan in 2024 and 2025. Previously, he had been Defensive Coordinator for theNew York Giants andBaltimore Ravens of theNational Football League (NFL) from 2018 to 2023.[2]
Don Martindale was born on May 19, 1963, inDayton, Ohio. He attendedTrotwood-Madison High School, where he playedlinebacker for the Trotwood-Madison Rams and was an All-State selection his senior year.[3]
He is an alumnus ofDefiance College, where he played on the football team. He got his nickname during his freshman year, when one of his teammates called him "Wink" after the longtime TV game show host,Wink Martindale.[4]
Right after college, Martindale took a job with his family's trucking company, hauling brake parts every day from Dayton, Ohio, to Detroit. It was a grueling six hour drive round-trip and he hated it, so he quit after a year to pursue his passion for coaching football.[5]
Martindale began his coaching career in the late 1980s at his alma mater, Defiance College, as an assistant for the Yellow Jackets.[6] In 1994 and 1995, he was a defensive assistant atNotre Dame for teams that went to theFiesta Bowl andOrange Bowl. He went on to coach for three years at theUniversity of Cincinnati, and then spent a year coaching forWestern Illinois University. He then spent a year as an assistant coach at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. Martindale's first stint in college football ended after he coached for three seasons atWestern Kentucky University under head coachJack Harbaugh.
From 2004 to 2008, he was the linebackers coach for theOakland Raiders. In January 2009, he was under consideration to be their defensive coordinator, while there was talk that ownerAl Davis considered Martindale for head coach.[7] (The last coach promoted from linebackers coach to head coach by Davis wasSuper Bowl XI-winning coachJohn Madden.)
In January 2009, Martindale was hired by his prior team's division rival, theDenver Broncos, as their linebackers coach.[8] In January 2010, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.[9]
On February 2, 2012, the Ravens signed Martindale as linebackers coach.[3] Don had worked under Ravens' head coachJohn Harbaugh's father, Jack, when he was defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky.
Martindale was part of the Ravens' coaching staff that wonSuper Bowl XLVII.[10] In January 2018, he was promoted to defensive coordinator.[11] On January 21, 2022, Martindale and the Ravens parted ways.[12]
On February 11, 2022, Martindale was hired by theNew York Giants to be their defensive coordinator.[13] In his first season, the Giants improved from having the 23rd ranked defense in 2021,[14] to the 18th ranked defense in 2022.[15]
On May 22, 2023, Martindale was honored with the 2023Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman Award, which is presented for lifetime achievement as an NFL assistant coach.[16] In the 2023 season, the team finished 6–11, while their defense fell to 27th in the league.[17] Despite their struggles, the Giants were the 9th-ranked third down defense.[17]
On January 10, 2024, the Giants and Martindale mutually agreed to part ways.[18]
On February 9, 2024, Martindale was named defensive coordinator at theUniversity of Michigan bySherrone Moore.[19] This marked his return to college football after 21 years with the NFL. On December 10, 2025, Moore was fired as head coach at Michigan, and Martindale was not retained for the next season.
Martindale and his wife, Laura, have two children.[20]