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Long-time NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who was a candidate for the Jets defensive coordinator job in January, until Woody Johnson reportedly decided that Aaron Glenn should handle the job himself, had some strong words on Pat Leonard’s podcast.
“Just think if the owner would have actually paid for a real defensive coordinator, they might have had a chance to win some more games,” Martindale said. “I think the Jets are the definition of a losing organization.”
Now some people will say that that is just “sour grapes” because he didn’t get the job. Some might say he’s bitter and has an axe to grind.
But two things can be true at the same time. He might have an axe to grind, but also be right.
I’m not saying he’s right about the Jets being “a losing organization.” I don’t want to get into that kind of ad hominem attack.
The part I’m saying he might be right about is the first part of his statement about if they had a “real defensive coordinator, they might have had a chance to win some more games.”
The Jets hired Brian Duker as their defensive coordinator, but Aaron Glenn is calling the defense.
When Martindale said “real defensive coordinator,” I don’t think he was referencing Glenn not being a “real defensive coordinator.”
I think he was saying get him a “real defensive coordinator” so Glenn could focus on running the entire team like he originally planned on doing.
Martindale is clearly implying that the Jets owner didn’t want to spend the money on him, and instead looked to save money with Glenn doing the job with the help of a DC, who probably isn’t making a fortune by coordinator standards.
Reportedly, the owner had to write the former DC Steve Wilks a big check after firing him late last season, so perhaps he wasn’t interested in paying another DC big bucks, considering his head coach made his bones as a defensive coach.
So it’s possible that Martindale, even if he has an ax to grind due to not getting hired, might be correct that it was a budgetary decision. Only the Jets top brass would know that for sure.
Glenn reportedly makes in the neighborhood of $11-12 million a year, and signed a five-year contract when he was hired in January of 2025.
So with Johnson paying Glenn fabulously, and also having to write a big check to Wilks to not work at 1 Jets Drive anymore, perhaps he was not in the mood to write another big check to a defensive coordinator.
You get the sense, with his actions, the owner was basically saying, “I hired you because of the work you did in Detroit (as DC); you run the darn defense.”
But considering how the Jets defense has played this year, especially against the run, it’s hard to totally shoot down the premise that “they might have had a chance to win some more games” if Martindale was running the defense.
For many years, Martindale was considered one of the better defensive coordinators in the NFL.
Some might argue that Martindale was a slightly better DC than Glenn. That isn’t meant to be a shot at Glenn, probably more the reality of the situation.
So it is possible Martindale is right.
Maybe the Jets win one or two of these close games if their defense were better.
That New England clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter, dominating on the ground, with three backup offensive linemen, with the Jets down one score, is a perfect example of a defense that has generally been underwhelming this year, aside from the Tennessee and Cleveland games.
Did the Jets make a financial decision that led to the stop pursuing Martindale? The coach certainly thinks that.
And remember, Woody’s right-hand man is a brilliant lawyer/financial planner named Ira Axelsrad. Really smart dude.
He runs “The Johnson Company,” which manages Woody’s money.
Not saying he was the driving force behind the Jets not hiring Martindale, but when evaluating the Jets’ financial picture, it’s always important to consider the enormous power this erudite man has in the building, especially when it comes to the financial picture of the organization vis-à-vis the owner…
David Bailey didn’t practice today due to a groin injury.
Saw this headline on NFL.com – “Jets star rookie won’t practice.”
He’s not a star yet, and I’m not going to use the Parcells line about rookies that I use way too much. Trying to wean myself off of it – LOL.
He has 5.5 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles, but his run defense has not been good on a run defense that overall has been terrible. He often rushes too far upfield, giving escape hatches to QBs to scramble around to run, or buy time to throw (this happened on a Drake Maye TD pass to Pop Douglas in New England).
Look, not looking to pick on the player, who is a rookie, but he’s not a “star rookie” by any stretch so far. He has a lot to work on, and he would probably be the first to admit it. Don’t just go by the sack total.
October 28, 2026
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