According to news outlets, a Jesse Minter Ravens agreement has been reached, and
the long-time Jim Harbaugh assistant will be the team’s next head coach. Minter will
replace Harbaugh’s brother, and Baltimore fixture John, and the fan base is rightfully
excited.
Baltimore finished well below expectations in 2025, finishing the season 8-9 and
missing the playoffs. Much ofthat can be attributed to their starting quarterback, Lamar
Jackson, missing four starts. It wasn’tjust about the two-time unanimous MVP, though,
as the Ravens’ defense was worse than usual as well.
Minter was probably the hottest coordinator making the rounds in head coach
interviews, and for good reason. He has a track record of success on the defensive side
ofthe ball, at both the college and pro level, and at just 42 years old, can inject the team
with some youthful exuberance.
Ravens Head Coach Jesse Minter: A History Of Success
Minter is actually returning to Baltimore, where he served as a defensive assistant for
The Ravens from 2017 to 2019, and was promoted to defensive backs coach in 2020.
He then dropped down to the college level to try his hand as a defensive coordinator. It
did not get off to an auspicious beginning. The Commodores gave up 35.8 points per
game (119th of 130 division one programs).
The following year, Minter joined forces with the younger Harbaugh at Michigan as the
Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. His unit allowed just 17.7 points per game, good for
seventh in the nation. 2023 would be even better, as Minter called defensive plays for
the national champions, and sported the country’s top-ranked defense, allowing just
10.4 points per game. After the season, with Harbaugh leaving for the Los Angeles
Chargers, Minter would follow and get his first professional coordinator job.
Minter’s first season as the DC, he only allowed 17.7 points per game, which gave him
the number one defense in the NFL in essentially his rookie season. In 2025, he
allowed 20 points per game (9th in the NFL) but was top-10 in both turnovers (23) and
sacks (45). lt was a forgone conclusion that he would be running his own team next
season.
A Jesse Minter Ravens Era Is Beginning
Baltimore usually sports one of the league’s best defensive units, but that was not the
case in 2025. The team allowed 23.4 points per game (18th in the league) and was in
the bottom half ofteams in turnovers (#17 with 20) and sacks (#30 with 30).
The Ravens will only have $23.4 million in cap space when the league year starts
unless they make some cuts and negotiate some extensions. Jackson will account for
$74.5 million against the cap, so he will almost certainly get a restructured deal.
Other players whose contracts will be adjusted or terminated will be linebacker Roquan Smith
($32.7 million), Defensive Tackle Nnamdi Madubuike ($30.9 million), and cornerback
Marlon Humphrey ($26.3 million).
There is quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding who the team will bring in and let go.
Nobody has a clue who they will draft at 14th overall. One thing that’s as sure as rain,
however, is that they have a great coach to help them get back to the playoffs in 2026.
