Malik Nabers Gets Wink Martindale's Backing in Greg Olsen Dispute
Published Nov 11, 2026, 2:20 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi
Key points
Former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said "I'm with Malik on this" after Greg Olsen's critique of Malik Nabers.
Fox's broadcast questioned Nabers' body language during the Giants' 19-11 win at Philadelphia on Sunday.
Nabers pushed back on social media and again Tuesday, then said he had moved on to Washington.
Malik Nabers has a familiar voice in his corner. Former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale defended him Wednesday. Fox analyst Greg Olsen had questioned his body language in Sunday's 19-11 win at Philadelphia.
"I'm with Malik on this," Martindale said on Talkin' Ball with Pat Leonard, as Big Blue Film Room shared on X.
"Somebody put that in his ear," he added, "whether it's to keep his contract down for the next year when they want to extend him or whatever it is, I don't know. But just keep playing."
Martindale ran the Giants' defense in 2022 and 2023. Last month, he said New York should trade for Jonathan Taylor "in a heartbeat".
What the Broadcast Said About Malik Nabers
Play-by-play voice Joe Davis was particularly critical of Nabers' reaction to an Isaiah Likely touchdown, NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk reported.
Olsen responded on air that "there's a very fine line between being demanding, being a competitor, and all those great things." He added that Nabers has "just got to keep it in check."
After the game, Nabers wrote on social media that the broadcast tried to "create a narrative." He also said Olsen called him a bad teammate. Olsen took issue with that claim, Pro Football Talk noted.
How Nabers Answered Olsen Tuesday
Nabers addressed it again Tuesday. "I'm [going to] speak up for myself all the time because there's nobody else that's going to be able to speak up for me," he said, via a team transcript.
He said he had not heard from Olsen directly, but "he can reach out and we can have a simple conversation." Otherwise, he is focused on Washington.
By the Numbers: Malik Nabers' October Before the Debate
Stat | Value |
Receptions | 36 |
Receiving yards | 509 (NFL-high) |
Touchdowns | 2 |
100-yard games | 4 of 4 |
Sources: NFL.com and Giants.com, October 2026.
That month made Nabers the NFC Offensive Player of the Month, the first Giants wide receiver to win it. The caveat is that body language is subjective, and Olsen never questioned his talent.
Why Wink Martindale Pointed to John Harbaugh
Martindale spent four seasons as John Harbaugh's defensive coordinator in Baltimore, and he framed this as familiar ground for the Giants coach.
"Think about all the great players that John Harbaugh's coached," Martindale said. "Does he get blown up more because it's in New York? Of course it does. But it's nothing new for John."
He also praised the receiver directly. "I love the kid. I love his competitiveness," Martindale said, adding that Nabers is "always fighting to get open."
The 5-2-1 Giants host the Commanders on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET, per Giants.com. It is their first game since Sunday's win in Philadelphia.
Our Take: Tune Out the Malik Nabers Noise and Keep Winning
I said it Monday, and I still feel the same way. I do not care about the Malik Nabers-Greg Olsen drama. The Giants are in first place, and that is all that matters.
I am not interested in drama while this team keeps winning games. No drama. Keep winning.
Malik Nabers is the player who matters here. People don't realize how good Malik really is. He is a superstar, and his October numbers above back that up.
Martindale's comments did make me think about something else. When Dennard Wilson is a head coach next season, I can't wait for the return of Wink as the Giants' defensive coordinator. That is my hope, not a report.
For now, Thursday night against Washington is all that counts.
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