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01/22 17:07 CST Ravens hire Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head
coach
Ravens hire Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as head coach
BALTIMORE (AP) --- Jesse Minter is heading back to Baltimore, this time as the
Ravens' next head coach.
The club hired the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator on Thursday.
Minter replaces John Harbaugh, who was fired earlier this month after 18 years
when the Ravens failed to make the playoffs.
Minter spent four seasons on Harbaugh's staff from 2017-20, working his way up
to become the defensive backs coach during his final season before taking the
defensive coordinator job at Vanderbilt.
The 42-year-old Minter was one of the hottest names on the market. He
interviewed virtually with several teams --- including the Pittsburgh Steelers,
who are also looking for a coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down last week ---
before landing in Baltimore, where his job will be to help two-time MVP
quarterback Lamar Jackson take the next step in a career that's been
consistently snakebit in the postseason.
"This is an organization whose values, culture and tradition of excellence
reflect everything I believe about the game of football and how it should be
played," Minter said in a statement.
Minter has been with the Chargers for two seasons after two years as defensive
coordinator at the University of Michigan. Minter's partnership with both
Harbaughs helped him build a resume that made him the right fit to replace John
Harbaugh and become the fourth head coach in Baltimore's 31-year history.
"Jesse is a strong leader who possesses a brilliant football mind and a spirit
that will resonate with our players and fanbase alike," Ravens general manager
Eric DeCosta said in a statement. "Jesse comes from a football family, with
success at every level of the sport, and we are confident that he is the right
coach to lead the Ravens forward."
The Bolts were fifth in the league in total defense this season, allowing 285.2
yards per game. They allowed a league-low 17.7 points per game in 2024. The
Wolverines led the nation in total defense in 2023 en route to winning the
College Football Playoff national championship.
Minter also spent four seasons at Baltimore (2017-20), rising from a defensive
assistant to defensive backs coach his final year. He also interviewed for the
head coach openings in Atlanta and Miami earlier this week. Las Vegas,
Pittsburgh and Tennessee have also requested interviews.
The Ravens endured a tumultuous 2025 season marked by a 1-5 start and major
injuries, from Jackson to defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. Baltimore
recovered to head into a Week 18 showdown with Pittsburgh for the AFC North
title.
Rookie kicker Tyler Loop's potential game-winning field goal on the final play
sailed wide right, handing the division crown to the Steelers.
Harbaugh, the NFL's second-longest tenured head coach, was out of a job days
later. Harbaugh didn't stay out of work long. He was hired to the same position
by the New York Giants last week.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/nfl
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