The Baltimore Ravens interviewed Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter for their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday, per a team announcement.
Minter, 42, was one of the first names mentioned as a candidate for the Ravens’ head coaching job, due both to his success in Los Angeles and his undeniable similarities to Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.
Macdonald and Minter both started their NFL coaching careers with the Ravens in 2017. Both stayed in Baltimore until 2020 as key assistant’s on Wink Martindale’s staff. In 2021, both took defensive coordinator jobs in college. Macdonald led Michigan’s defense under Jim Harbaugh, and Minter was hired by Vanderbilt. When Macdonald succeeded Martindale as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022, Minter replaced him at Michigan. He followed Harbaugh to the NFL in 2022 and immediately rebuilt the Chargers defense into one of the best in the league.
In his debut year, Minter’s unit ranked first in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed; this year, they ranked ninth and fifth, respectively. He runs a similar scheme to Macdonald’s, though he adapted his system to the Chargers’ personnel.
The comparisons to Macdonald will no doubt stir the interest of the Ravens’ fanbase, who lamented his departure from Baltimore and viewed him as a potential successor to John Harbaugh.
One of the questions about Minter’s candidacy is his lack of connections to top offensive minds around the NFL. The Ravens’ offensive coordinator job should still be plenty attractive, considering the Lamar Jackson of it all, but Minter does not have established relationships that would help a staff come together quickly.
