The Ravens didn’t see the need to turn everything upside down in the wake of firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
But they didn’t have a time machine either.
If owner Steve Bisciotti knew how Harbaugh’s final two years would have gone, perhaps he never would have let defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald leave for Seattle and would have instead made him the head coach. In that way, the hiring of Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter — once Macdonald’s contemporary in Baltimore as well as his replacement at the University of Michigan — as the fourth head coach in team history feels like somewhat of a mulligan in addition to a concerted effort to restore the franchise’s defensive standard that faltered these last two seasons.
Factoring Minter’s strong ties to both Harbaugh brothers, the Ravens are refreshing their football culture more than rebuilding it with a 42-year-old head coach who’s new and different, yet familiar.
“He has a great vision for the future. Jesse’s football acumen is outstanding, and that’s been proven by the impact he’s made throughout his entire coaching career,” Bisciotti said in a statement released by the team. “He is also a leader who will authentically connect with our players and inspire them to championship levels.”
Of course, how Minter and the new coaching staff “authentically connect” with two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson remains paramount. The two know each other from Minter serving as a defensive assistant during Jackson’s first three seasons in Baltimore, but both are now in a different place in their respective careers. It’s also no secret that general manager Eric DeCosta must rework Jackson’s $74.5 million salary cap number for each of the next two seasons.
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Because the Ravens hired a defensive-minded head coach rather than an offensive mind in the vein of Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, or Andy Reid to put in lockstep with their franchise quarterback, the offensive coordinator hire now becomes almost as critical. DeCosta and Minter are certainly aware of that and will continue to solicit as much feedback as possible from Jackson in regards to his preferences.
Is the 29-year-old Jackson pushing for former Washington offensive coordinator and Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury as some reports have indicated?
What about the other young offensive minds who interviewed for the head coach job such as Joe Brady, Davis Webb, or Nathan Scheelhaase?
There’s also the question of how the new offensive coordinator impacts the status of quarterbacks coach Tee Martin, who has a good relationship with Jackson.
Threading the needle between keeping players comfortable and accountable isn’t always easy, but that’s especially true when considering one of the very best players on the planet who also owns all the leverage in negotiating a contract extension. Say what you want about the disappointing 2025 season or questions about how well their personalities meshed, but former offensive coordinator Todd Monken helped take Jackson’s game to new heights with an MVP award in their first year together and what easily could have been another in 2024.
Even if the Ravens nail the offensive coordinator hire, there’s the reality that a spectacular 2026 could lead to that individual becoming a head coach elsewhere and the organization being right back in this position next year. But that’s generally a good problem to have that comes with success despite it being a frustrating one.
With many assuming Minter will continue to call his defense on game days, the coordinator hire on that side of the ball may not carry as much clout from a perception standpoint. Still, a first-time head coach — at any level, mind you — will still need someone he can trust to help prepare weekly game plans as he tends to additional responsibilities that will be new to him.
8Any assistants with current or past ties to the Chargers or Ravens will be of interest in the coming days, but it’s also interesting to note another local connection with Minter and current Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker being very close friends since their college days at Division III Mount St. Joseph. The Chargers unsuccessfully tried to lure Volker away from Annapolis to become their linebackers coach two years ago, but Minter becoming a head coach right up the road could lead to a different answer if the two are interested in coaching together for the first time since their time at Georgia State a decade ago.
Of course, the possibilities remain foggy with so many head coach and coordinator chairs still open in this hiring cycle, but the Ravens have their head man and have been overwhelmingly praised for the hire. There’s plenty to like about Minter, especially seeing so many of his players vouch for both his coaching chops and leadership qualities. The Ravens believe they’ve hired the right man, and it’s tough to question their track record after their last two head coaches both won a Lombardi Trophy within their first five seasons in Baltimore.
But what happens next will be nearly as important in setting up the Ravens for success in 2026 and beyond.
