Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens Name Jesse Minter Head Coach

On Thursday evening, the Baltimore Ravens named former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their fourth head coach in franchise history. RSR staff react to the news here.

Nick Polinsky

Minter was the man I was hoping for along. He spent a few years in Baltimore and then followed Jim Harbaugh around for a few years before going back to the Charm City.

Defense has been the thing plaguing the Ravens game after game, not the offense. Many have compared Minter to former DC and now Seahawks HC Mike MacDonald, and a lot of similarities are there, especially in the coaching ranks.

Minter is much more of a natural leader than guys like Kubiak and this hiring has created a ton of excitement for what’s to come.

Year before Jesse Minter became Chargers DC:

30th in pypg (249.8)
24th in points allowed (23.4)
27th in yds per play (5.5)
Worst season of Derwin James’ career

In 2 years under Minter:
5th in pypg (193.4)
3rd points allowed (19.9)
7th yards per play (5.2)
Back to back…

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) January 23, 2026

Derek Arnold

Defense is back in Baltimore! Listen: I absolutely get the line of thinking that said we need to marry up head coach and QB a la Andy Reid/Pat Mahomes. But Bill Belichick is a defensive guy, and that worked out OK, didn’t it? That particular example aside, the defensive candidates just seemed better this cycle. I was never enthused about Klint Kubiak, and Davis Webb & Nate Scheelhaase just seem too green at this point (though I’d love to see either as OC).

How can we maximize Lamar Jackson for the next handful of years? How about with a defense that gives him the ball? How about with a defense that doesn’t force him and the offense to put up 30+ to win? Let’s get back to complementary football around here. Jackson & the offense can put up the points, and the defense can get after the quarterback and take the ball away, as opposed to this bend-but-don’t-break BS.

This feels like the closest thing to admitting, “hey, we screwed up letting Mike Mac leave.” There’s no reason Minter can’t have this defense humming like Seattle’s. The Chargers were the #5 defense this year, while spending the 31st most on that side of the ball.

Jesse Minter defense points per game allowed:

2022 (Michigan): 16.1 (7th)
2023 (Michigan): 10.4 (1st)
2024 (Chargers): 17.7 (1st)
2025 (Chargers): 20 (9th)

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 22, 2026

Brian Billick was 44 when he became the head coach of the Ravens. John Harbaugh was 45. Minter turns 43 in May. Here’s to Jesse joining Brian in winning a Super Bowl before turning 50 (John missed by a couple months…thanks Lee Evans!)

A reminder of my post about Jesse Minter at the outset of this search with some extra thoughts thrown in. I think Minter is a very special coach and worthy of this pick by the Ravens.

*He is an experienced coach, despite being only 42, he’s coached for nearly two decades with 10… https://t.co/hQ3ou1pder

— James Ogden (@NflOgden) January 22, 2026

Rob Shields

The Ravens hiring of Jesse Minter has seemed to be obvious for a while but still i wondered if it would happen and happen this fast.

They didn’t do a second interview with the coaches coaching this weekend and that surprised me. However, it tells you that Minter was the guy they had to have and they weren’t going to let him get away.

My preference was an offensive guy but this was the “other” guy i wanted the most. He is a Mike MacDonald clone. They grew up in this biz together. They have the same defense.

The concern i have with Minter is more about “is he too much Harbaugh”? That we will see.

The OC hire is key. The rumor is Kliff Kingsbury.  He’s not exciting many people. I can see both sides. He wouldn’t be my first choice but i can see why they like him. McDaniel changing his mind and coming here would be the best case scenario.

How he fills out of his staff will be interesting to me. Much like Craig Albernaz with the Os, will he be able to choose his guys? We need better coaching, so it would be nice to see him get guys he is comfortable with.

All in all, you got the #1 guy amongst first time head coaching candidates and he knows the org. Hard to believe some fans aren’t happy. I get wanting an offensive guy (who by the way, no one really knows enough about) but to think this is a bad hire is just the height of stupidity but yet, we are seeing it anyway.

Looking forward to the press conference next Thursday and to hear more about his plan for Lamar and the offense. Defensively, I’m not worried about him turning it around. The question is, how do you maximize Lamar for the next 2-4 years?

The whole offensive coach leading the team was overblown. I was also on that train of thought in the beginning.

But you’re really looking at Kubiak, only. Minter to me was a stronger personality fit (without being in the interview room).

Vrabel, Macdonald have great offenses. https://t.co/M4qQWmptJJ

— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) January 23, 2026

Chris Schisler

The Ravens did what the Ravens tend to do: made a sensible decision. It’s impossible to determine if the Ravens made the absolute right call; just like the draft that is for the future to determine. What we can say today, is that Jesse Minter is a qualified hire, with experience in the organization, who is a good blend of proven defensive mind and a young hungry coach on the rise.

If I had my pick it would have been Klint Kubiak. I thought his run-first philosophy would have been something special with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. Timing may have tipped the scales to Minter. Minter made more sense each day. The Ravens are a team with a deep defensive lore. Minter gets that. He can restore the glory of what Ravens defense is supposed to mean to Baltimore, while casting aside the baggage of an evaporated Harbaugh era.

If my only true complaint is that Minter is too tied to the Harbaughs, there’s not too many negatives to get caught up in. Minter climbed the ladder and some of its rungs were in Baltimore. The time at Michigan and as the Chargers’ defensive coordinators were important steps in his journey. It’s a fresh start for the Ravens even if the roots first soaked in the rivers of Harbaugh wisdom. It’s not my top choice, but it is a good one.

He will have the same impact as Mike M in Seattle. Mark my words. Great hire!!! https://t.co/35H5rTP4qV

— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) January 23, 2026

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