The Baltimore Ravens are entering a new era under head coach Jesse Minter. After firing John Harbaugh, they will move forward with Minter, who is now the fourth head coach in franchise history.
It’s going to feel weird with a different head coach at the helm. Harbaugh coached this team for 18 years and was very successful throughout that tenure. Undoubtedly, Minter has a lot to prove. The expectations are sky high.
Minter won’t be able to truly prove himself as a head coach until Week 1 of the 2026 regular season, but he certainly has the opportunity to make his name known with a strong offseason. The 42-year-old is already starting to build his coaching staff.
On Sunday, Minter and the front office made a big move. Notre Dame’s defensive backs coach Mike Mickens will head to Baltimore for his first NFL opportunity. He joins Minter as the team’s defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Mike Mickens is leaving Notre Dame to take a job with the Baltimore Ravens, @BGInews reports.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) January 26, 2026
Mickens has been one of the Irish's most valued and trusted assistant coaches during the Marcus Freeman era.
Tough loss for ND but it was a long time coming.https://t.co/QPVl2vJhaS pic.twitter.com/ShprHQRExY
The connection between Minter and Mickens runs deep. When Minter was the defensive coordinator at Indiana State in 2012, Mickens worked under him as a defensive assistant. While they only worked together for one season, their paths up the coaching ladder were very much alike.
Along with that time at Indiana State, both spent time on staff at Notre Dame and Cincinnati. They didn’t cross paths at those schools, but built similar connections and relationships. Now, over a decade later, the two are back on the same team.
Mike Mickens set to reform Baltimore’s secondary
After an ugly season from the defense in 2025, the Ravens desperately need an overhaul on the defensive side. That will hopefully start with Mickens.
Mickens has had plenty of success at the collegiate level. Notable players that he has helped develop include Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner, Atlanta Falcons defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, who is expected to be a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Mickens’ Notre Dame secondary was also among the top passing defenses in 2023 and 2024. 2025 was a down year after losing the likes of Morrison and Watts in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the 38-year-old coach remains an up-and-coming defensive mind. He’ll also get to work with one of his former players, safety Kyle Hamilton, who is also quite possibly the most versatile defender in the NFL.
It looks like Minter may have found himself a good one.