Mike Kafka anticipated to usher in Wink Martindale if employed by Saints

New York Giants assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka wrapped up his in-person interview with the New Orleans Saints on Saturday. He’s thought-about a favourite to land their vacant head teaching job.

Kafka is “hopeful” he’ll get the decision and has reportedly begun contemplating who he’d rent as his offensive and defensive coordinator.

In a wierd twist, ESPN’s Jordan Raaran experiences that Kafka is predicted to usher in former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale ought to he get the job.

Attention-grabbing tidbit on this: If Mike Kafka will get the Saints job a number of league sources anticipate him to deliver Wink Martindale as his defensive coordinator. They clearly labored along with the Giants and had been key to the preliminary success in 2022. https://t.co/0hwUBo2THA

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 26, 2025

Martindale labored side-by-side with Kafka throughout their two first seasons with the Giants below the regime of common supervisor Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Nevertheless, issues rapidly deteriorated between Martindale and Daboll, resulting in an unsightly and public cut up.

After his “resignation” in East Rutherford, Martindale spent final season because the Michigan defensive coordinator, the place he earned the most important coordinator wage within the nation.

Martindale interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts throughout this teaching cycle and drew some curiosity from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kafka, in the meantime, was retained after Martindale’s exit and promoted in an effort to stop a lateral transfer — one thing he was reportedly open to. And though he’s mentioned all the correct issues publicly, many experiences counsel he’s lower than happy privately, particularly after having his play-calling duties stripped.

Provided that Martindale could be Kafka’s main selection as defensive coordinator, one may counsel that it displays poorly on Daboll and Kafka’s opinion of the Giants’ head coach.

Ought to Kafka and Martindale land in New Orleans, it received’t be lengthy earlier than they see the Giants and Daboll. The 2 are scheduled to play on the Caesars Superdome in 2025.