Ravens make long-awaited head coaching statement with Jesse Minter hire

The Baltimore Ravens have finally made their decision on their next head coach. After shockingly firing John Harbaugh two weeks ago, the team hired former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to become the fourth head coach in franchise history.

The smoke was clear this past week surrounding the Ravens and Minter. After earning a second interview, he was one of three reported finalists. He beat out Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for the job.

Baltimore turned over every stone in their search. They compiled a list of 17 candidates, interviewing a wide range of young offensive and defensive minds, and former head coaches.

While many fans wanted an offensive coach to get the most out of Lamar Jackson and company, the Ravens opted to go the defensive route. On Thursday evening, they finally landed on the decision to hire Minter.

Ravens hire Jesse Minter

There’s no doubt that Baltimore needs to get back to their defensive dominance. The past two years have showcased defenses that were just barely keeping their heads above water. Minter will immediately shift that trend and reintroduce the type of defenses NFL fans are used to seeing in Baltimore.

Throughout this entire process, the Ravens were highly intrigued by what Minter could bring to the organization. He spent time in the building from 2017 to 2020, holding a few different positions on the defensive staff.

That experience includes being the defensive assistant from 2017 to 2018, the assistant defensive backs coach in 2019, and the defensive backs coach in 2020. Ultimately, after a brief stint back at the collegiate level, he worked his way up to the defensive coordinator spot with the Chargers from 2024 to 2025.

Those years in Los Angeles proved he was worthy of the job. The Chargers were firmly a top 10 defense this past season, and ranked in the top 10 in takeaways and sacks. The Ravens were far too inconsistent with forcing turnovers and generating pressure under defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Those kinds of plays are game-changers, and Minter is ready to bring plenty of that energy.

With many staffers and players still in the building from that tenure, Minter quickly revealed himself as the runaway candidate for the opening. He should be able to make a seamless transition into the position due to that familiarity. It should benefit many of the players, too, as some already know the systems and philosophies he’ll likely look to incorporate.