The Baltimore Ravens announced on Jan. 22 that they have hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the fourth head coach in franchise history.
Minter, 42, comes from the Harbaugh coaching tree, having worked as a defensive assistant for the Ravens (2017-2020) under John Harbaugh and as the defensive coordinator at Michigan (2022-2023) and for the Chargers (2024-2025) under Jim Harbaugh.
“Jesse was impressive throughout our incredibly thorough interview process,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement posted on social media. “He clearly understands the values, high expectations history of the Ravens, and he has a great vision for the future.”
“Jesse is a strong leader who possesses a brilliant football mind and a spirit that will resonate with our players and fanbase alike,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said in statement posted to social media.
Minter began his coaching career as an intern at Notre Dame, eventually working his way up to the defensive coordinator role at Georgia State (2013-2016) before making the jump to the NFL with the Ravens. He served as Baltimore’s defensive backs coach in 2020 before leaving to become the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt (2021) and Michigan.
Minter helped the Wolverines go 15-0 and win the College Football Playoff in 2023 prior to following Jim Harbaugh to Los Angeles. In hiring Minter, the Ravens are dipping right back into the Harbaugh universe after firing John Harbaugh at the end of the 2025 season.
Minter initially interviewed with the Ravens on Jan. 14 following the Chargers’ wild-card loss to the New England Patriots, then came to Baltimore for an in-person interview on Jan. 21.
Minter’s first order of business will be building his coaching staff, starting with an offensive coordinator. Todd Monken ran a productive offense the past three years in Baltimore, but he is widely expected to follow his old boss to the New York Giants should he not land a head coaching job. Minter will need to hire an offensive coordinator who connects with quarterback Lamar Jackson and establishes more consistency from that unit than it showed in 2025.
Whether Minter calls plays defensively or not, he’ll be tasked with upgrading a group that finished 19th in the NFL in yards allowed per play (5.5), 30th in sacks (30) and 22nd in takeaways (20). A lack of splash plays from the defense has been a common theme in season-ending losses in recent years.
This past season, Los Angeles finished 10th in yards allowed per play (5.0). Minter runs a similar style of defense as Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who served as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator from 2022-2023.
“There are definitely significant parallels. If you feel like you missed on Mike, then Jesse is probably the guy that you would want,” ESPN Chargers reporter Kris Rhim said on Glenn Clark Radio Jan. 16. “I see those parallels for sure in terms of the defense they run, but also there are some parallels with the [Baltimore and Los Angeles defenses] just in personnel, the people that the Ravens have, and I think that starts with a guy like Kyle Hamilton. I think [Minter] would employ him the same way he employed Derwin James.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Los Angeles Chargers