The Baltimore Ravens are entering a new era with Jesse Minter at the helm, but one thing isn’t changing: Minter is keeping his hands firmly on the defensive wheel.
In his first season as a head coach, Minter won’t be handing off play-calling duties. Not now, and not anytime soon.
The 42-year-old, who’s been a defensive coordinator for 11 of the past 15 seasons, made it clear that he plans to continue calling the shots on defense in 2026. And if you know Minter’s track record, that decision makes a lot of sense.
“I do plan on calling the defense,” Minter said. “I think that's a strength of mine. I think that's one of the reasons I'm sitting here… I think [the players] will feel my competitiveness, they'll feel my mentality every day, and I think we'll work hand-in-hand together to build a great team.”
This isn’t just about keeping continuity-it’s about playing to your strengths. Minter has built his coaching identity on the defensive side of the ball.
"I do plan on calling the defense. I think that's a strength of mine. I think that's one of the reason's I'm sitting here." pic.twitter.com/R4Q4mzCIDU
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 29, 2026
Whether it was in college or during his stints in the NFL, his units have consistently shown toughness, discipline, and a knack for limiting big plays. He’s not just a play-caller; he’s a tone-setter.
While Minter hasn’t finalized his full staff yet-he’s still in the process of hiring both offensive and defensive coordinators-he’s not ruling out the possibility of following a model similar to Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay, who operates without a formal defensive coordinator. Still, the Ravens have already shown interest in bringing in support. The team recently requested an interview with Denver Broncos assistant Jim Leonhard, who appears to be high on Minter’s list.
That potential hire would make sense. Leonhard is a respected defensive mind with a background that fits Baltimore’s identity-aggressive, smart, and adaptable. But even if Leonhard or another assistant comes aboard, make no mistake: this defense will have Minter’s fingerprints all over it.
Minter’s NFL play-calling experience may be limited to two seasons, but the results were strong. During his time with the Los Angeles Chargers, his defenses never finished worse than ninth in points allowed or 11th in total yards allowed. That kind of consistency speaks volumes, especially in a league where defensive success is hard to sustain.
Now, he’s back in Baltimore-a place he knows well. From 2017 to 2020, Minter climbed the ranks on the Ravens’ staff, starting as a defensive assistant before moving up to assistant defensive backs coach and eventually defensive backs coach. That experience gave him a front-row seat to the Ravens’ defensive culture, one built on physicality, communication, and relentless pursuit of the football.
After leaving Baltimore, Minter made an impact in the college ranks, first at Vanderbilt, where he led the defense to a top-10 finish, and then at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. His success in Ann Arbor earned him a spot on Harbaugh’s staff with the Chargers in 2024, continuing a long-standing connection to the Harbaugh coaching tree. Between Jim and John, Minter has spent eight of the last nine years working under one of the Harbaugh brothers-a testament to the trust and respect he’s earned within that coaching circle.
Now, it’s his turn to lead. And he’s doing it his way: by staying true to what got him here. Minter isn’t just stepping into a new role; he’s bringing his defensive edge with him, and the Ravens are betting that edge can carry them into the next chapter.
Baltimore’s identity has long been rooted in defense. With Minter calling the shots, that tradition isn’t just safe-it might be about to level up.