A Wink Martindale return to Michigan football feels more likely

Michigan football received great news this week when a few key defenders announced they would be back for the 2025 season.

Now, the Wolverines just need to secure their defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, for another season. After one year as the Michigan football DC, and a really strong finish with wins over Ohio State and Alabama -- holding them to a combined 23 points, NFL teams are showing interest.

The Ohio State game was incredible. Wink's defense led Michigan football to a fourth straight win over a team poised to win the national championship. Then, with four projected first-round picks not playing against 11th-ranked Alabama, Michigan allowed just 13 points.

It gave fans a glimpse of how special the defense could be in 2025. Then, there were reports that Wink interviewed with the Falcons, Bengals, and Colts for their defensive coordinator positions.

Michigan football lost its defensive coordinator to the NFL after the 2021 and 2023 seasons, so it wasn't a huge surprise. But after the Falcons hired another defensive coordinator on Saturday, a return to Ann Arbor seems more likely.

Mink Martindale could be returning to Michigan football

Atlanta was the job I worried about the most. The Bengals were also in the mix but they appear to have focused on two other candidates for their opening. That leaves just the Colts.

Martidale is among five candidates who have interviewed for the job. But, if Indy wants Wink and is going to lure him away from Michigan football, it's going to take a lucrative deal..

Martindale is slated to make $2.7 million this season. He made $2.5 million last year, which would have put him among the top five highest-paid DCs in the NFL.

Martindale seems to like Michigan and I think he wants to stay. Sherrone Moore even said as much. Therefore, it seems like it would take a big money deal to get him to leave. I don't see Wink taking anything less than $3 million to leave, maybe more.

Last season, the Colts didn't rank among the top 15 in DC pay. So is Jim Irsay, an owner who is known for being cheap, going to triple the salary of his defensive coordinator?

Maybe, but I have a hard time seeing that happen. Another team could certainly enter the mix. But if Michigan football was smart, it would offer Wink a raise and get him secured for 2025 and beyond.

Either way, Wink's return feels more likely than not at this point. At least with the way things are trending.