The New York Giants defensive coordinator position has been held by some of the best coaches in football history. Tom Landry was the franchise’s first DC. Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and Marty Schottenheimer all led New York’s defense before they became head coaches. Let’s look at who is leading the Giants defense this season.
Who Currently Serves as Giants Defensive Coordinator?
Don “Wink” Martindale is running the team’s defense this season. He has been an NFL assistant coach since 2004. Earlier this year, Martindale received the Pro Football Writer Association’s Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award, which is presented for lifetime achievement as an NFL assistant coach.
Martindale started his coaching career at his alma mater, Defiance College, as a secondary coach in 1986.
He coached high school football in Ohio from 1988 to 1993. His first major college job was as a defensive assistant at Notre Dame in 1994. He spent the next decade in college with jobs at Cincinnati, Western Illinois, and Western Kentucky.
Martindale moved to the NFL as the Raiders LBs coach in 2004. After five seasons in Oakland, he joined the Broncos and was defensive coordinator in his second season in Denver. Martindale went to Baltimore in 2012 to be the LBs coach. The Ravens won Super Bowl 47 in Martindale’s first season with the team.
In 2018, he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Ravens. That season, the Ravens defense became the first team since 1934 to not allow a second-half touchdown in the first six games. The Ravens scored six defensive touchdowns in 2019, tied for the second most in team history.
How Long Has Wink Martindale Been the Giants Defensive Coordinator?
Martindale is in his second season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Last season, the Giants allowed 45 fewer points and had seven more sacks than in 2021. The team ranked fifth in two key categories: third-down defense and red-zone defensive efficiency.
MORE: 2023 NFL Head Coach Rankings
Dexter Lawrence led the team with 7.5 sacks, a career-high, and was named second-team All-Pro last season. Rookie EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate.
Who Was the Defensive Coordinator Before Martindale?
Patrick Graham led the Giants defense for two seasons under Joe Judge. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said when he was hired that he wanted Graham to stay on as defensive coordinator. Graham, who also interviewed to replace Judge, accepted the Raiders DC job instead.
