EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Don "Wink" Martindale, who coordinated one of the NFL's stingiest defenses for a Baltimore Ravens team that finished with a league-best 14-2 record, late today interviewed for the Giants' head coaching position.
Martindale, 56, met in Baltimore with Giants president John Mara, general manager Dave Gettleman and vice president of football operations Kevin Abrams. The top-seeded Ravens will host an AFC Divisional Playoff Game next Saturday.
Martindale, who has more than 30 years coaching experience, including 15 in the NFL, is the fourth coach to speak with the Giants about their coaching vacancy. The others are Dallas Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach Kris Richard, former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy, and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Pat Shurmur was dismissed as Giants head coach on Monday.
Baltimore has had the NFL's most consistently good defense in Martindale's two seasons as coordinator. In 2018, the Ravens allowed an NFL-best 292.9 yards a game and were fourth against the run (82.9), fifth vs. the pass (210.0) and second in points allowed (17.9 per game). Baltimore was the first team since the 1934 Detroit Lions to not allow a second-half touchdown in the first six games of a season.
This year, the Ravens were fourth in yardage (330.6), fifth in run defense (93.4), sixth against the pass (207.2) and third in opposing points given up (17.6). Four Baltimore defenders were selected to the Pro Bowl.
Martindale has coached in Baltimore since 2012, when he began a four-year stint as the team's inside linebackers coach. That year, Martindale coached Hall of Famer Ray Lewis in his final season and the Ravens defeated San Francisco in the Super Bowl. Martindale guided and developed many outstanding players at the position, notably four-time Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley. From 2016-18, the Ravens led the NFL with 52 interceptions and were second with 79 takeaways, seven fewer than Kansas City.
In 2016, Martindale was named linebackers coach and Baltimore tied the Chiefs and Chargers with 18 interceptions, including four by Mobley. After two years in that position, Martindale was promoted to coordinator.
Martindale entered the NFL in 2004 as the Oakland Raiders' inside linebackers coach. After two seasons in that role, he began coaching all of the linebackers, a position he held for three years.
In 2009, Martindale joined the Denver Broncos' staff as linebackers coach. He was the team's defensive coordinator the following season, when he coached a pair of Hall of Famers in cornerback Champ Bailey and safety Brian Dawkins. Martindale did not coach in 2011.
Prior to coaching in the NFL, Martindale was a collegiate coach for 11 years and a high school coach for six. His first job in major college football was as a defensive assistant at Notre Dame in 1994-95. Martindale held a variety of positions – coaching at various times ends, linebackers and special teams and doing two stints as a coordinator - at the University of Cincinnati, Western Illinois and Western Kentucky from 1996-2003. He then joined the Raiders' staff.
A native of Ohio, Martindale was an all-state linebacker at Trotwood-Madison High School. At Defiance College, he played linebacker, earned a bachelor's degree in business education and began his coaching career in 1986-87, first as defensive backs coach and then as the coordinator.
Martindale and his wife, Laura, have a daughter, Cassie, and a son, Ty.
View photos of Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale, who interviewed for the Giants' head coach position.
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale directs players during an NFL football training camp practice at the team's headquarters, Friday, July 27, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale, left, speaks with linebacker Terrell Suggs during NFL football training camp at the team's headquarters, Friday, July 27, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale watches pregame warmups before an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Seattle. The Ravens defeated the Seahawks 30-16. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
FILE - In this June 12, 2019, file photo, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale speaks with reporters at the NFL football team's training facility in Owings Mills, Md. The success of the Ravens has created an interest in coordinators Greg Roman and Don Martindale as potential candidates to fill NFL head coaching vacancies. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale watches from the sideline during an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs defeated the Ravens 33-28. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale at the team's NFL football training facility in Owings Mills, Md., Wednesday, June 12, 2019 (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale stands on the sideline in the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale watches from the sideline during an NFL Week 16 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, in Carson, Calif. The Ravens defeated the Chargers 22-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale walks onto the field before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, right, and defensive coordinator Don Martindale watch an NFL football training camp practice at the team's headquarters, Monday, July 23, 2018, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Don Martindale, right, speaks with linebacker Andrew Bose during NFL football training camp, Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in Owings Mills, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale walks on the field during an NFL football practice at the team's headquarters in Owings Mills, Md., Wednesday, June 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Don Martindale, goes over a scheme with D.J. Williams during the Denver Broncos Mini Camp at Dove Valley in Englewood,Co. June 11, 2010
Defensive coordinator Don Martindale watches his defense run a drill at Denver Broncos training camp August 3, 2010.(AP Photo/ Eric Bakke)
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale is pictured on the sideline in fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Denver. The Chargers beat the Broncos 33-28. (AP Photo/ Barry Gutierrez)
Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Don Martindale watches a defense play in the third quarter of the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals August 15, 2010 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati,OH.(AP Photo/Eric Bakke)
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