If tension is building between Giants head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale, those claims were shut down by Daboll after the team’s 10-7 win over the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.
Ahead of the contest, Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer reported there was some ‘tension’ brewing between the two and even speculated that their bond could be coming to an end. When Daboll was asked about the claims of tension between the two, the 48-year-old responded with a clever food joke.
“The biggest argument Wink and I have had is who has the last slice of pizza,” Daboll said. “I got a lot of respect for Wink, done a good job. I’ll leave it at that.”
Daboll also gave the game ball from Sunday’s victory to Martindale and praised his team for picking up their second consecutive win.
“You [Giants] never wavered, regardless of how it went,” Daboll said in a video posted by the Giants on X (formerly known as Twitter).
#Giants HC Brian Daboll on his relationship with DC Wink Martindale:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 26, 2023
"The biggest argument Wink and I have had is who has the last slice of pizza."pic.twitter.com/DJsILgOu7c https://t.co/RZ4ioF3LMn
🗣 Postgame speech pic.twitter.com/SwunL7mKzp
— New York Giants (@Giants) November 26, 2023
Daboll and Martindale are both in their second seasons with the franchise and guided the franchise to five more wins from the 2021 to ’22 campaign and the team’s first postseason victory since ’11 last season. However, this season, the Giants have regressed mainly due to injuries and a tougher strength of schedule.
The Giants (4-8) enter their bye week before returning to action on Dec. 11 against the Packers on Monday Night Football.