As the Dallas Cowboys finalize their deal to bring Mike Zimmer on board as their new defensive coordinator, another notable name in coaching circles appears to be making a move to the collegiate ranks. ESPN reports that Michigan is in talks to hire former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to fill their defensive coordinator position. Martindale, known for his contributions to the Baltimore Ravens’ formidable defensive units under head coach John Harbaugh, is set to replace Jesse Minter, who recently departed to become the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Interestingly, Martindale will now find himself working under Jim Harbaugh, John’s brother, who recently transitioned from Michigan to the head coaching role with the Chargers.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks are also in the hunt for a defensive coordinator, with reports suggesting that they are eyeing Dallas assistant Aden Durde as a potential candidate for the position. Durde, a native of Great Britain, could potentially join the coaching staff of rookie head coach Mike Macdonald in Seattle. In Dallas, Durde is being considered as a possible replacement for Dan Quinn, who has since moved on to become the head coach of the Washington Football Team. However, the Cowboys appear to be leaning towards hiring a coordinator with extensive experience, with candidates like Mike Zimmer, Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, and potentially Wink Martindale, all of whom are over the age of 60, being considered. Despite his relatively young age of 44, Durde has already interviewed for the defensive coordinator vacancy in Dallas and has attracted interest from other NFL teams as well.
