Wink Martindale getting second Jets defensive coordinator interview in major step toward New York return

Wink Martindale is close to returning to New York. 

One day after the Jets fired a handful of defensive position coaches, Martindale is scheduled for an in-person interview to fill the coordinator vacancy, The Post confirmed.

He is one of eight coaches who was previously announced as part of the initial round of interviews. 

League sources told The Post that head coach Aaron Glenn has had Martindale at the top of his list from the start of the process and that Martindale sees potential to make a big impact with the Jets. Both Martindale and Glenn believe in playing attack-minded defense, which could be the cure for the Jets’ mind-boggling stat of finishing this season with zero interceptions. 

Giants fans hoping that Martindale might return to their organization — where his two-year tenure included a 2022 playoff berth, a 2023 season leading the NFL in takeaways and ultimately behind-the-scenes fireworks with then-head coach Brian Daboll — because of his past time working under new head coach John Harbaugh in Baltimore were never going to get that dream accomplished because of the abrupt way things ended. 

Jets fans hoping that one of their former players, Broncos assistant head coach Jim Leonhard, would land the job might have to hold their breath. Of course, Leonhard is preparing for the AFC Championship game right now and cannot be hired, while Martindale is available because he was not retained as Michigan defensive coordinator after the staff changeover following the Sherrone Moore scandal.