Ravens hiring Bolts' Minter as new head coach

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens announced that they hired Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to be their new head coach Thursday, a move that replaces John Harbaugh with a fast-rising coach who has strong ties to the Harbaugh family.

Minter is receiving a five-year contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Minter has been the defensive coordinator for Jim Harbaugh for the past four seasons, overseeing the units at the University of Michigan (2022-23) and with the Chargers (2024-25). Minter's first NFL job came with John Harbaugh in Baltimore, where he was a defensive assistant from 2017 to 2020.

"I am truly honored to serve as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens," Minter said in a statement. "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."

The hiring of Minter, who had long been considered the front-runner for the Ravens' opening, comes 16 days after Baltimore fired Harbaugh, the franchise's winningest coach, who was dismissed after 18 seasons. It also concludes the Ravens' meticulous search that included interviews with 16 candidates. In addition to Minter, the coaches brought in for second interviews by the Ravens were Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Minter, 42, becomes the fourth head coach in the Ravens' 31-year history and their youngest ever. Before the search officially began, one team source described Minter as "a legitimate genius," saying there was already tremendous support for him from his previous time in Baltimore.

"Jesse was impressive throughout our incredibly thorough interview process," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. "He clearly understands the values, high expectations and history of the Ravens, and he has 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. He's also a leader who will authentically connect with our players and inspire them to championship levels."

The priorities for Minter will be to stop the Ravens from repeatedly underperforming in the playoffs and to connect with quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who is coming off one of his worst seasons. Minter's familiarity with Jackson dates to 2018, when the then-rookie worked with him as the scout team quarterback for the first half of that season.

Known for his leadership ability and coolheaded temperament, Minter becomes the first Ravens head coach whose expertise comes from defense. The Ravens' first two head coaches -- Ted Marchibroda and Brian Billick -- were previously offensive coordinators, and Harbaugh was a longtime special teams coordinator before landing in Baltimore.

"Jesse is a strong leader who possesses a brilliant football mind and a spirit that will resonate with our players and fan base 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."

Last season with the Chargers, Minter guided the NFL's fifth-ranked defense (285.2 yards per game). In 2024, his first season in Los Angeles, the Chargers led the league with the fewest points allowed (17.7 per game).

When Minter arrived in L.A. in 2024, he was taking over one of the league's worst defenses, which in three years under former coach Brandon Staley ranked 30th in yards allowed per play (5.7), points (24.8) and rushing yards per game (134). Over two seasons under Minter, the Chargers ranked second in QBR allowed (50.0), third in points (18.9) and seventh in yards per play (5.2).

Traditionally known for their defense, the Ravens have struggled to stop teams lately, ranking 24th as a unit this season (354.5 yards per game). It's only the third time in the past 25 years that the Ravens' defense finished a season ranked 20th or worse.

Minter understands the culture in Baltimore because this move represents a homecoming of sorts. He was a defensive assistant in Baltimore in 2017 and 2018 before being promoted to assistant defensive backs coach in 2019. Minter then became the Ravens defensive backs coach in 2020, when the team ranked sixth in pass defense (221.0) and second in third-down conversion rate (34%).

By selecting Minter, Baltimore looks to uphold its reputation for stability and success. Over the past 27 years, the Ravens have had two head coaches -- Billick and Harbaugh -- and both won Super Bowls in their first five seasons in Baltimore.

On Jan. 6, Bisciotti fired Harbaugh after the team failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Harbaugh led Baltimore to 193 wins, including the playoffs, and a Super Bowl title in the 2012 season, but recently the Ravens fell short of matching the postseason success that they had earlier under his leadership.

Since drafting Jackson in 2018, Baltimore has won 86 games, the third most in the NFL over that span. But in eight seasons with Jackson, Harbaugh managed only three victories in the postseason and never advanced the Ravens past the AFC Championship Game.

The Chargers, meanwhile, must now replace coordinators on both sides of the ball this offseason. The team fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman after its playoff exit and now will have to find a replacement for Minter. Former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is expected to fill the offensive coordinator role, sources told ESPN's Schefter and Jeff Darlington earlier this week.

Minter becomes the fifth NFL head coach hired this offseason, joining Harbaugh (New York Giants), Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta Falcons), Robert Saleh (Tennessee Titans) and Jeff Hafley (Dolphins).

ESPN's Kris Rhim contributed to this report.