New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks to reporters before mandatory minicamp at the Giants training center in East Rutherford on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Syndication: The Record
(East Rutherford, NJ) – As we head toward the end of a lost season for the New York Giants, speculation abounds as to what will happen with the team’s coaching staff. It would appear head coach Brian Daboll’s job is safe. But what about offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale?
In particular, there has been reporting surrounding the relationship between Daboll and Martindale. Near the season’s midway point, FOX Sports reporter Jay Glazer said the two were in a “bad place.” Glazer even suggested that Martindale could be gone before the end of the season. Clearly, that didn’t happen, as Martindale is preparing his defense for the team’s finale with the Philadelphia Eagles. This week, Martindale responded to a question asking if he’d be back next season and said “I don’t know why I wouldn’t.”
The man nicknamed Wink in honor of the longtime TV game show host, thinks there’s a prize ahead no matter where he ends up: “I think the future is bright if you’re asking me how I look at my future. I think that these are things that you talk about after the season is over with because he wants to beat Philly and I want to beat Philly, and I just think that those answers will come later on in the week as far as which way we go.” Martindale expanded further and addressed his thoughts on the Giants in particular: “I know we’ve got the greatest fans in this league and we’ve got the greatest ownership in this league, and you want to have a winner, you deserve to have a winner, and so whenever you are not winning, how this league works, inevitably, you are going to have conversations, tough conversations. How that works out is how that is going to work out.”
Nfl Ny Giants Vs Carolina Panthers Panthers At Giants
So it remains to be seen if Daboll, or GM Joe Schoen, thinks Martindale should return – or if the team needs a fresh voice at DC. On the plus side for Martindale, he’s popular with his players, and his defense is unique in terms of scheme. Opposing coaching staffs and offenses need to gameplan for his blitz-heavy approach. Martindale’s philosophy is “pressure breaks pipes,” and he’s never shy about bringing plenty of it.
Martindale was willing to be candid about what he thinks needs to change if he remains in New York: “I think that it’s all football related. I think that – like I said, we’ll have those conversations. You have those conversations after this last game and you sit back and you can reflect and you take the emotion out of it, the emotion, the grind, the stress of preparing every week and you sit back, and you talk things out. Say here’s where we are at, so I think that’s natural on every team.”
On the offensive side of the ball, despite the drama encircling Daboll and Martindale, things have been even uglier. Daniel Jones missed most of the season with injury, and was largely ineffective when he did play. Backup QB Tyrod Taylor dealt with injuries of his own, and third-stringer Tommy DeVito brought some “juice” – but ultimately failed to lift the Giants from the offensive doldrums they’ve faced for nearly 10 years.
Enter offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. A former NFL QB who coached under Andy Reid in Kansa City before joining the Giants staff, at this time last year he was one of the hot names in terms of potential future head coaches. He’d helped the Giants up their game, Jones had one of his best seasons in 2022, and Kafka’s offensive mind was coveted. Now? Not so much. And it could mean him losing his OC gig in New York. That’s not to say game plan and coaching are the Giants only problems on offense. The O-line still stinks. New York’s group of pass catchers are uninspired. And Darren Waller – brought in to more or less be the team’s number one receiver – got injured (no shock there).
Kafka was less loquacious in his comments this week when chatting with reporters: “Really, my only focus is on today and this week and preparing our guys the best we can for Philadelphia,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in myself as a coach, but my focus has only really been on Philadelphia, today and this week.”
Some have speculated that current quarterback’s coach Shea Tierney could become the next OC if Kafka is let go. Of course, Daboll himself was the offensive coordinator during his last stop before getting the Giants job – with Buffalo. It’s certainly possible he’d look to assume play calling duties next season, regardless of who becomes the OC.
