Mike Caldwell fired: 4 DC replacements Jacksonville Jaguars should sign in a hurry

2. Wink Martindale, ex Giants defensive coordinator

If the Jaguars want a proven commodity for their defensive coordinator position, they should then go after Don "Wink" Martindale, one of the most renowned personalities around the league.

Martindale began his coaching career in the college ranks. He made the leap to the NFL in 2004, when he became the linebackers coach for the then-Oakland Raiders. He had the same position with the Denver Broncos, and then the Baltimore Ravens the following years. Having landed in 2012, Martindale became the Ravens defensive coordinator in 2018. He was given the boot in 2022 but the breakup was amicable. He still had a year left on his contract, and Baltimore was looking for a different defensive philosophy.

Either way, it didn't take long for Martindale to find a gig. Not long after being let go by the Ravens, he was hired as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator when Brian Daboll became the head coach. After two years with Big Blue, Martindale turned in his resignation. It was a bit of news for Daboll, who had previously said that he fully expected him to return.

Then again, Martindale and Daboll didn't have the best relationship. In fact, there was a lot of friction between them, with signs of animosity being evident throughout the 2023 season. Rather than continue to be in a place where he wasn't comfortable, Martindale walked away.

Martindale routinely fielded stout defenses in Baltimore. The Giants ranked near the cellar of the league in yards surrendered last year but that was mostly due to their dearth of talent across the board. Even then, they were still tied for the most turnovers in the NFL.

Martindale will probably be in demand during this hiring cycle, but the Jaguars should be an appealing destination. He'll most definitely have more talent than the one he had in the Big Apple.