Former Michigan, NFL DC Wink Martindale offers help to Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys

Over the past two seasons, the Dallas Cowboys defense has been among the worst in the NFL. That doesn’t look to have changed this season, as the Cowboys defense is allowing 387 yards (third-worst in NFL) and 27.7 points per game.

Dallas’ defensive woes were on full display in their 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, as they allowed 378 offensive yards and 34 points. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson also connected with a wide-open Zay Flowers on a 29-yard pass with one second remaining, leading to a game-winning 56-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Loop.

Now sitting at 1-2 on the season, the Cowboys seem desperate for some defensive help. Former Michigan and longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is offering up his services, as he isn’t currently latched on with any collegiate or professional team.

“I don’t want to be an asshole, but he’s just being outclassed right now,” Martindale said on ‘Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard‘. “So Jerry [Jones] can call me and I’ll go help him. But, you know, I’m talking about helping the coordinator.”

Martindale last served as Michigan‘s defensive coordinator under former head coach Sherrone Moore from 2024-25. Prior to that short stint in Ann Arbor, Martindale served as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants (2022-23), Baltimore Ravens (2018-2021), and Denver Broncos (2010).

Brian Schottenheimer apologized for end of Cowboys-Ravens game

On Tuesday, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer admitted that he was in the wrong for how he went about managing the end of the game.

“I didn’t do very good in the final 20 seconds (of Sunday’s game in Rio),” Schottenheimer said, via The Athletic‘s Jon Machota. “I hurt our chances to win that game. I’m better than that. Those things won’t happen again.”

Shortly after Schottenheimer gave his thoughts, Cowboys owner/president/GM Jerry Jones opened up about the ending of the game. He seemed extremely unpleased with how things turned out in Rio.

“There is no explanation you’re satisfied with. None,” Jones said, via his radio show. “Let’s be sure that we all understand that. They [coaches] don’t have one that they’re satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There’s no question about it. So there is no explanation. But there’s an evaluation of how not to make the same mistakes again.”

Sitting at 1-2 on the season, Dallas will look to bounce back next Sunday on the road against the 0-3 Houston Texans. The Cowboys are 4-3 all-time against the Texans, but lost the last meeting (Nov. 18, 2024) 34-10.