Michigan football fans were looking forward to an offseason without drama, but now that defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is being pursued by multiple NFL teams to be their defensive coordinator, it appears that might not happen.
Martindale could always choose to stay. But money talks and coordinators tend to get paid more in the NFL than they do in college football. It's just the way of the world.
It was reported that Martindale interviewed with the Falcons. However, the Bengals and Colts also have interest in the Michigan football defensive coordinator who was a long-time NFL DC for the Ravens and Giants.
Things started out rocky with the Wolverines but by the end of the season, Martindale looked like one of the best defensive coordinators in college football. No one else had stopped Ohio State like he did. He also held Alabama to 13 points without four first-round picks.
Martindale is one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in college football, but NFL coordinators tend to make more so it will be hard for Michigan football to match any salary.
If Martindale does leave, who could possibly replace him?
Two names to know if Wink Martindale leaves
There are a couple of names circulating. One is current USC defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. He was a safeties coach for the Ravens in 2021 and in 2022 under Mike Macdonald, the guy who brought the Ravens defensive system to Michigan football for the first time.
Lynn was the DC for UCLA in 2023, before taking the job with the Trojans. The Penn State alum could also be of interest for the Nittany Lions, but Michigan football has proven its willing to pay whatever it takes for an elite defensive coordinator, so money shouldn't be the issue -- as long as the Wolverines aren't competing against the NFL.
Another name of interest is Doug Mallory. The former Michigan football player and analyst during the 2021-2023 seasons, coached the secondary in Baltimore last season. He's familiar with the defense and according to Sam Webb of The Michigan Insider, he played a key role in the gameplan for Washington in the national title game, as well as the use of all the different coverages that were used on the backend during his time with the Wolverines.
Mallory does have experience as a college football defensive coordinator, although it was over a decade ago at New Mexico. He wouldn't be a sexy hire, but Macdonald wasn't either or Jesse Minter for that matter.
Surely, other names will emerge but if Wink does leave Michigan football for the NFL, Lynn and Mallory are two names who make sense as replacements.