JANUARY 10: After the explosive report about Martindale cursing out Daboll and storming out of the Giants’ facility, the sides engaged in a multiday standoff. But this long-rumored separation is now official. The Giants announced Wednesday they have split with Martindale, who was signed through 2024.
The Giants have let Martindale out of his contract and will save some money in doing so. The team will no longer owe Martindale $3MM for the 2024 season, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets. New York no longer has the ability to block a Martindale DC move elsewhere; he is a coaching free agent again.
JANUARY 8: Brian Daboll presented comments to the contrary earlier today, but Don Martindale‘s time as defensive coordinator of the Giants could soon be over. The latter is not expected to remain in place for 2024, report ESPN’s Jordan Raanan as well as Dianna Russini of The Athletic. 
Indeed, Martindale has now resigned, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. The veteran staffer will head elsewhere in pursuit of both DC and head coaching opportunities. When speaking to the media earlier on Monday, Daboll said he expected both Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to remain in their posts. The former has instead chosen to move on.
Martindale enjoyed a successful debut season in New York, as did Daboll and the rest of the team’s staff. The Giants’ defense played a crucial role in their surprising run to the divisional round of the postseason last year, and expectations were high entering 2023 for all involved. The team took a notable step back this year, however, and a reported rift emerged between Martindale and Daboll.
On a number of occasions, both coaches made attempts to downplay the significance of the report, stating that their relationship was seen as being strained only due to the team’s lack of performance. Martindale made it clear his future was uncertain, but he also stated an intention of continuing to work with Daboll in New York for 2024 and beyond. Instead, he will now start over once again.
The 60-year-old spent one year as the Broncos’ DC before a lengthy tenure with the Ravens. Initially joining Baltimore’s staff as a linebackers coach, Martindale was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2018. His time in that role produced three straight seasons as a top-seven unit in terms of both points and yards allowed per game. Regression in 2021 led to a parting of ways, however.
That led Martindale to New York, a stint which has now proven to be rather short-lived. The Giants did not fare well in most defensive categories in 2023, but a larger share of the blame has been laid at the feet of the offense. Generally known for being well-liked amongst his players, Martindale profiled as a logical candidate to be retained in the event Daboll elected to keep much of his staff intact. Since his announcement this morning, however, offensive line coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins have been let go. Both brothers have a history with Martindale, who like them will have a new home by next season.
With most of New York’s staffing changes coming on special teams and defense, Kafka may very well still be retained through the offseason. However, both Martindale and ST coordinator Thomas McGaughey are not out of the fold, meaning Daboll will have a number of signficant additions to make to his staff over the coming days and weeks.
This is kind of odd….
Almost wonder if there wasn’t a heart to heart today and this is the result
Why announce the ST firing and not the DC at the same time?
Because after the Special Teams Coordinator and OL coach were fired, Dabol fired the OLB coach and Defensive assistant coach. When they were meeting after the firings, Martindale, who was long time friends with the 2 defensive coaches fired, went off on a profanity laced violent tirade then stored out of the building telling the team he was resigning. Apparently the team was trying to reach him, he left for Florida and I assume that things were worked out today for either him resining, or the Giants paying him a portion of the $3 mm owed him for next year so both could move on.
Long answer as to why it wasn’t reported at the same time.
Gone in the Wink of an eye!
Giants fired Wink buddy and OLB coach Drew Wilkens. Doubt Wink was happy about that. He probably decided to resign this afternoon
I always thought he was a TV game show host after watching Tic Tac Dough
Seems like about 60% of Giants fans NOT Thrilled with this news .
Bobby Johnson was the o line coach let go. Drew Wilkins was the OLB coach.
This doesnt surprise me. Wasn’t there some tension between Daboll and Wink this year
Martindale was probably HOPING he’d get fired along with the others so he’d be able to get paid while looking for his next job. He may have downplayed the tension and bad blood in front of the media, but insiders said Daboll was a nightmare to work for.
I would love to have wink as a defensive coordinator for the Eagles! hopefully we can work something out with this or possibly get Bella check for rebel as a head coach if they are not retained. how you know what Ben Johnson I would like to be our head coach too because right now it is coaching staff by all parents it seems like they lost the locker room and once that happens especially in football the writings on the wall
I used to think Sean McDermott was hard to work for. There was noise about a rift between Sean and Brian.
I think that is probably still true. After all, Leslie Frazier left too.
But the way Dabol has handled himself this year under stress makes me think there was blame from Dabol too. The blame was probably in the middle.
Don chose to leave. He wasn’t fired. Same as Frazier.
I know NFL jobs are very demanding. But not having skills to manage people makes it hard to have staying power as a HC.
well he could always go play Tic Tac Dough.
Going to Philly would be one heck of an F U. lol
Don’t let the door hit your big ass on the way out. Watching the Giants this year I was constantly scratching my head on some of his defensive calls. Like dropping our All Pro Nose tackle into pass coverage. Or taking your best pass rusher who is not good in coverage into drop back zone coverage. It was almost like he thought he was too smart for the rest of the offensive coaches he goes against.
Then it comes out, he would totally disregard the game plan and go rogue. The game in question is the second Dallas game, where his defense gave up 680 yards of offense to the Cowboys. 3 Cowboys receivers over 100 yards receiving. Sidelines shots showed Dabol yelling what are you doing, that’s not what we said to do.
Like I said, good riddance!
This ugly Giants mess has helped deflect the heat off Aaron Rodgers in the NYC media.
The Rodgers vs Kimmel feud is more interesting than 2 fats arguing over the last slice of pizza
National Sports Media is fixated on Rodgers. NYC media are all over what’s happened with the Giants.
Harbaugh dumped Wink and hasn’t regretted it. They shouldn’t have let Graham go to begin with.