The NFL head coach hiring cycle is getting into full swing. After firing John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens were one of nine teams this offseason with a head coaching vacancy. As of January 18, there are seven openings left.
Harbaugh inked a deal with the New York Giants, and Kevin Stefanski, a coach the Ravens were targeting, is heading to the Atlanta Falcons. It’s been clear that Baltimore is taking their time working through this process, but with some critical roster decisions looming and other teams starting to sign head coaches, they may have to make a move quicker than they anticipated.
After the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers lost in the Divisional Round on Saturday, the Ravens were able to conduct interviews with Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady and San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Sunday. With those two interviews completed, they have interviewed all 15 candidates they requested to meet with.
As long as there are no more late calls made, they have completed their first cycle of interviews. That moves them ever so closer to landing on their fourth head coach in franchise history.
Ravens inch closer to head coaching decision
There haven’t been many reports on the direction that the Ravens could go in, but owner Steve Bisciotti made it sound like they may be leaning toward a more experienced mind that is back at the top of the list of candidates during this coaching cycle. Stefanski would’ve fit that description, but he’ll be coaching Atlanta in 2026.
The most talked about candidate is Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Minter has a strong connection with Baltimore, having a few different coaching gigs on the defensive side from 2017 to 2020. That experience included being the defensive assistant (2017-2018), assistant defensive backs coach (2019), and defensive backs coach (2020).
In 2025 with the Chargers, he had his unit as a top-five defense in the NFL in yards allowed per game. They also forced the seventh-most turnovers with 23, including 19 interceptions. Obviously, his players have raved about him when asked about the possibility of Minter becoming a head coach. Derwin James, in particular, had some great things to say about him, and it seems he has the type of mindset you’d want to have leading a Baltimore defense.
Asked if defensive coordinator Jesse Minter would be a good head coach, Chargers safety Derwin James said, “Hell yeah. He can make whatever he wants to be. He’s that guy. He’s an alpha. The guys play hard for him, and I just feel he’s that dude.” pic.twitter.com/HGrj4f0wRu
— Eric Williams (@edubnfl22) November 15, 2024
In the eyes of the Ravens fanbase, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is one of the top choices. After leading a well-rounded top 10 offensive unit this past season, his candidacy is only gaining steam with an outstanding showing in the Divisional Round against the 49ers, where they hung 41 points on the board.
Other options that sound like possible frontrunners include Saleh, former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The team has yet to conduct any of their second interviews, though, so it remains a complete guessing game as to who will get the job.