Michigan Wolverines could take major 2025 loss before the season even starts thanks to the NFL
The Michigan Wolverines ended the 2024 season with some incredible momentum, nabbing elite quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood, pulling off their fourth-straight victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, and orchestrating an incredible bowl game upset of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
However, a major architect of their turnaround this season could be on his way out, thanks to the NFL.
Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale could be headed back to the NFL this offseason. Martindale has a pair of interviews scheduled with NFL teams with a third potentially interested, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will interview with the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday and the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday with the Cincinnati Bengals potentially interested.
A long-time NFL defensive coordinator, Martindale was most recently the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens before Michigan lured him to the college ranks last offseason. The Colts almost hired Martindale as their head coach before hiring Shane Steichen.
The Wolverines made Martindale the highest-paid coordinator in college football this season, and that investment paid off. Despite some early struggles, the Wolverines finished 11th in total defense and 19th in scoring defense this season. Michigan shut out Indiana in the second half of that loss before holding the Ohio State Buckeyes to just 10 points and the Alabama Crimson Tide to 13 to close out the season.
