Latest Bengals defensive coordinator search report gets emphatically shut down by insider

Just when there was noise coming from the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive coordinator search, it was shut down almost instantly.

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Monday afternoon that the Bengals “could have interest” in current Michigan DC Don “Wink” Martindale, whom will be interviewing with the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts this week.

Paul Dehner Jr., a long-time Bengals beat writer who covers the team for The Athletic, effectively shut down Pelissero’s report a few hours later, citing the team’s “unfriendly history” with Martindale as to why he is not under consideration for the job.

Considering the unfriendly history between the #Bengals and Wink Martindale, it's kind of funny they somehow got caught up in the conversation about him for DC.

For clarity: Martindale is not part of the #Bengals DC search nor was he ever under consideration.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) January 14, 2025

Martindale spent 2024 as the DC for Michigan and held the same title with the New York Giants from 2022-23, but Bengals fans remember him very well when he was the defensive play-caller for the Baltimore Ravens from 2018-21. Martindale made a dismissive remark towards Joe Burrow before their Week 16 meeting in 2021.

The Bengals destroyed the Ravens, 41-21, in that game as Burrow ended up throwing for what’s still a career-high 525 passing yards and four touchdowns to boot against Martindale’s defense that was down several starters. Burrow told reporters after the game he heard what Martindale said about him and that it motivated him to perform the way he did.

Martindale was fired after that season and many point to that game being one of the reasons as to why. The Ravens replaced him with Mike Macdonald, who excelled so much in the following two years that he became the Seattle Seahawks head coach in 2024.

Martindale, a native of Dayton, Ohio, wasn’t confirmed to be interviewing with the Bengals, but Dehner Jr. ended any and all speculation that he might in the coming weeks. The Bengals will indeed continue looking elsewhere.