Jesse Minter's ability to connect with players is evident from their reaction upon hearing the news that he will become the Ravens' next head coach.
Some of Minter's former players with the Los Angeles Chargers chimed in after the hiring.
During the 2024 season, Chargers safety Derwin James was asked whether Minter would make a good head coach someday.
"Hell yeah. He can make whatever he want to be," James said. "He's that guy. He's that leader, that alpha. Guys play hard for him. He's just that dude. Every day, you know what you're doing to get with him. He's consistent."
Former Chargers and Ravens safety Eric Weddle approves of the hire.
Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy felt like Baltimore should hire an X's and O's coach that would come with a specialty on one side of the ball, which Minter will deliver to the Ravens' defense.
"This young generation, they enjoy X's and O's coaches," Van Noy said. "They want to know where they can have success. They want you to put them in positions. They want you to teach them, 'OK, I see you in this spot.' And then go out in walk-through and do it and see it in a game. They respond really good to that from my point of view of being around X's and O's guys. That's what this league is turning into."
Van Noy pointed to other head coaches who brought innovative schematic excellence on defense or offense and their success this season, including the Bears' Ben Johnson, Jaguars' Liam Coen, 49ers' Kyle Shanahan, Seahawks' Mike Macdonald, and others.
"I see this generation of players coming up enjoy X's and O's a lot," Van Noy said. "That's what they want to see. I see the Ravens going that way."
