Giants' Adoree' Jackson discusses apparent Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale rift

New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson spoke during a Tuesday appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN about the apparent rift between Giants head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale that played a role in Martindale's reported resignation following the season. 

"It’s not like I saw any disposition in the body language that would display that there was something wrong," Jackson said about what he witnessed from Daboll and Martindale across the past two seasons, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "Me seeing that…it was shocking to see he just left like that."

While Daboll and Martindale helped the 2022 Giants make the playoffs and earn a road postseason win, Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer reported when the club was 3-8 in late November that the coaches were "in a bad place" and could part ways following the campaign. Both Martindale and Daboll recently hinted they could continue working together throughout 2024, but that was before it was learned Monday that Daboll had dismissed outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and his brother, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. 

The Wilkins brothers reportedly are "close" with Martindale.

"Seeing them in our meetings or on the field and talking, maybe they can win an Oscar," Jackson added about Daboll and Martindale. "Because if there was a problem, they did a good job acting and showing that there wasn’t one."

According to ESPN stats, the Giants ended the season ranked 27th in the NFL in total defense (361.7 yards surrendered per game). Despite that and the club's woeful 6-11 record in Daboll's second campaign, Jackson suggested Martindale wasn't responsible for all that went wrong for the Giants across the past several months. 

"I think Wink did a great job of getting people in position," Jackson explained. 

Whatever did or didn't happen behind the scenes between Daboll and Martindale, the Giants are going in a different direction regarding their defense. One wonders if Daboll will find himself on the hot seat next fall if he's wrong about not doing everything possible to hold onto Martindale through this offseason.