The Ravens have completed an interview with Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter for their head coach opening.
Here are five things to know about Minter:
Minter has coached in Baltimore before.
Minter was on the Ravens' staff from 2017-20, beginning as a defensive assistant before being promoted to assistant defensive backs coach and eventually defensive backs coach in 2020.
He has familiarity with the Ravens' culture, and a return would be a homecoming of sorts. His experience competing in the AFC North could also work to his advantage.
Baltimore had the NFL's No. 1 defense in 2018 and a top-five defense (No. 4) in 2019 when Minter was on the staff. The Ravens are seeking a return to that level of defensive play.
The Chargers' defense played its best down the stretch.
The Chargers' defense was instrumental in helping them secure a playoff spot.
They finished the season ranked No. 5 overall, and Minter's unit improved as the season progressed. The Chargers held opponents to 20 points or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games, and they tied for third in interceptions with 19.
Los Angeles held the Patriots' explosive offense to 16 points and forced two turnovers in its Wild-Card loss Sunday night.
The Los Angeles defense was fast and physical this season, led by Pro Bowl safety Derwin James and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu. The Chargers had four players with at least five sacks – Tuipulotu (13.5), ex-Raven Odafe Oweh (7.5), Justin Eboigbe (6), and Khalil Mack (5.5). The Ravens are seeking to improve their pass rush, and hitting the quarterback was one of the Chargers' strengths.
Minter has experience maximizing a versatile safety.
Minter took advantage of James' versatile skillset as a safety who can impact the game by lining up in the front seven or in the secondary.
After a blowout 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11, Minter and the Chargers' coaching staff adjusted and found a rhythm. James' presence was a big part of the equation as the Chargers used him as a multipurpose weapon.
The Ravens utilize first-team All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton the same way as one of their defensive cornerstones. A Minter-Hamilton pairing could help Baltimore's defense get back to where it wants to be.
He comes from a coaching family.
Minter's father, Rick, is a senior defensive analyst with the Chargers and was a long-time college coach, including 10 years as head coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Growing up as a coach's son gave the 42-year-old Minter an early inside look at the job and what it takes to succeed. Coaching's in his blood, and he began his career immediately out of college as a defensive intern at Notre Dame in 2006.
Minter left the Ravens to become defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt (2021), before Jim Harbaugh hired him as Michigan's defensive coordinator (2022-23) to help the Wolverines win a national championship. He followed Harbaugh to the Chargers in 2024 as defensive coordinator and has become a hot head coaching candidate.
Minter describes himself as driven without a huge ego.
Minter told The Athletic he still has the 98 rejection letters he received when he was looking to begin his coaching career.
Those letters still fuel Minter and keep him grounded. He grew up wanting to be a coach and loves doing it. But he also wants everyone around him to feel valued.
"A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there's a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego," Minter said. "I've always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they're part of the success."
