Jets insider flags high-profile DC candidate to 'keep an eye on'

When the New York Jets hired Aaron Glenn to be their new head coach this past offseason, they did so with the expectation that the defensive-minded coach would be able to bring structure, discipline, and consistency to a unit that quickly fell apart the previous season.

While it would have been a bit too optimistic to believe the Jets could finish with a top-10 defense in 2025, most at least expected the bare minimum of competency. Needless to say, that hasn't been the case.

The Jets' defense has sunk to historic levels of terrible in Glenn's first season on the job, so much so that the team opted to fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks with a few games remaining in the year.

The Jets will embark on a search for a new defensive coordinator this offseason, a process that appears likely to extend beyond the current staff, given the team’s recent performances. And now, a Jets insider has introduced a particularly intriguing external name to watch.

Who will Aaron Glenn hire to be the Jets' new defensive coordinator?

SNY's Connor Hughes recently mentioned longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale as a potential "underrated name" that Jets fans should "keep an eye on" in the coming weeks.

Hughes highlighted Martindale’s proven pedigree, his ability to consistently overachieve with the talent at his disposal, and his work with the New York Giants as reasons why the fit could make immediate sense for the Jets.

Martindale last coached in the NFL as the Giants' defensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023 before he and the team mutually agreed to part ways following the season. He's spent the last two years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan.

The Ohio native is perhaps best known for his time as an assistant coach in Baltimore, serving as the Ravens' linebackers coach for over a half-decade before he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018.

Martindale’s ability to coach a defense has never been in question, but a recurring theme followed his last two NFL stops. He wasn't necessarily fired from either role so much as his blunt, unapologetic personality eventually led to friction within the locker room.

Martindale is an emotional, old-school coach who has never shied away from voicing his opinions, a trait that ultimately led to clashes with both John Harbaugh and Brian Daboll. Those tensions eventually contributed to his departures from Baltimore and New York.

It is for that reason that many might scoff at the idea of a potential Martindale-Glenn partnership. Glenn has also garnered a reputation as a coach who is outspoken, demanding, and unafraid to challenge those around him.

Schematically, the pairing could make sense. Like Glenn, Martindale has historically leaned on man-heavy coverage schemes that feature high blitz rates and an aggressive, attack-first mindset. It would represent a shift away from Wilks’ more read-and-react approach, but there are still some underlying similarities.

The Jets are expected to scour the market in their search for a new defensive coordinator, with names such as Al Harris, Christian Parker, Jonathan Gannon, and even former Jets safety Jim Leonhard among those who have been connected to the team.

For now, Martindale remains firmly in the speculative category, but his name surfacing this early is notable given the direction the Jets appear to be heading.

As the offseason unfolds and the coordinator search becomes clearer, it would not be surprising if that buzz around Martindale only continues to grow.