It took some time for the Baltimore Ravens to make their choice on their next head coach. After firing John Harbaugh, they conducted an in-depth two-week search, where they interviewed 20 candidates for the job. On Thursday, they signed former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to become their fourth head coach in franchise history.
For pretty much the entire process, Minter was believed to be the top target for the Ravens. His experience on their coaching staff from 2017 to 2020, along with showcasing a stroke of dominance with the Chargers over the past two years, made him the perfect option to come in and reset the culture.
The hire is receiving praise from nearly every direction imaginable. Recently, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer called the decision to hire Minter one of the smartest moves of the coaching cycle.
“Every team that had an opening, except for Buffalo, which just opened, put in a request to interview [Minter]. He was a finalist in a number of places,” Breer said. “He’s creative, he’s got a great coaching pedigree…and he’s got incredible emotional intelligence…This is a guy who's been able to connect with players, who’s been able to get the most out of players.”
You can watch Breer’s full breakdown below.
SI's @AlbertBreer breaks down why new Ravens HC Jesse Minter will be one of the best hires of this cycle. pic.twitter.com/5BBrsXd5Lw
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 22, 2026
Ravens’ Minter hire gets huge round of applause
Despite being just 42 years old, Minter has a ton of experience. As Breer mentioned, he has an excellent coaching pedigree. At the NFL level, that started with the Ravens from 2017 to 2020. He moved up the coaching ladder, and despite moving down to the college level following that tenure, he learned under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, which brought him back to the NFL in 2024.
These past two years calling the shots for the Chargers have been nothing short of extraordinary. In 2024, Minter made a statement, leading a defense that led the NFL in points allowed per game. In 2025, they were ninth in points allowed.
In Baltimore, there’s already a strong group of players awaiting his arrival. Safety Kyle Hamilton is among the best players in the NFL. Defensive tackles Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones are also game-wreckers in the middle of the defensive line. There is plenty of young talent, too, and there’s no better guy to be able to teach them than Minter. He should also have a huge impact on the offense, as he already has a strong relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
If the media’s reaction is any telling, Minter should be a home run hire.