With Giants Hiring Joe Judge, Ravens DC Wink Martindale Staying Put?

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The New York Giants have reportedly agreed to hire New England Patriots special teams coordinator Joe Judge as their new coach, a position for which Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale interviewed Jan. 4.

Martindale is busy this week preparing his Ravens defense to face the Tennessee Titans in an AFC divisional round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 8:15 p.m., and he is scheduled to hold his weekly news conference Jan. 8.

Martindale, 56, is in his second season as the Ravens defensive coordinator and his eighth on the Ravens staff.

This season, Martindale had to rebuild his defense after losing five starters, including a trio of Pro Bowl picks, from the Ravens 2018 AFC North title team. After a disappointing opening quarter of the season in which the Ravens went 2-2, the Ravens further revamped their defense by signing linebackers Josh Bynes and L.J. Fort, trading for Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters and signing defensive linemen Jihad Ward, Domata Peko and Justin Ellis.

In addition, safety Chuck Clark moved into a starring role after a season-ending injury to Tony Jefferson, which Clark taking over the headset helmet and directing the Ravens defensive calls.
The result was a defense that finished No 4 overall, No. 5 against the run, No. 6 against the pass and No. 3 in red-zone percentage as the Ravens (14-2) won their final 12 games to wrap up their second straight AFC North title and secure the AFC’s No. 1 seeding for the first time in franchise history.

Martindale, who is in his 15th year as an NFL assistant and has never been a head coach, said earlier that it would take “an opportunity of a lifetime” to leave the Ravens.

While Martindale would seemingly be set to remain in Baltimore with the Giants’ hiring of Judge, offensive coordinator Greg Roman remains a candidate for the vacant head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns. Roman was interviewed by the Browns last week during the Ravens bye week.

Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox

Bo Smolka

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