Atlanta completed a virtual interview with Martindale on Tuesday. Both the Falcons and Colts will interview him for a second round on Wednesday. He is the first candidate the Falcons interviewed for the position this offseason.
Martindale spent the previous season as the defensive coordinator for Michigan after parting ways with the New York Giants following a rough 2023 season.
He made a name for himself in the NFL as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from to 2018 to 2021. In his first three seasons with the team, the Ravens' defence ranked 1st, 4th, and 7th overall before falling off in his final year in which they ranked 25th.
Michigan is coming off of a season in which they ranked 11th overall in the nation out of 133 schools.
If hired, he will replace former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. Atlanta's defence this past season ranked 24th overall and 23rd in scoring.