Jesse Minter isn’t easing into his new role as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach-he’s doubling down on what got him here in the first place. In his 21st year of coaching, Minter made it clear: he’s not handing over the keys to the defense anytime soon.
“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.” That’s not just confidence-it’s conviction.
For Minter, calling plays isn’t a chore to offload now that he’s running the whole show. It’s central to how he plans to lead this team.
And he’s got the résumé to back it up. Minter has spent 11 of the past 15 seasons as a defensive coordinator, carving out a reputation as a sharp, adaptable play-caller.
Even in his limited NFL play-calling experience-just two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers-his defenses never ranked lower than ninth in points allowed or 11th in total yards allowed. That’s not just solid; that’s top-tier production in a league where defensive consistency is hard to come by.
So it’s no surprise that Minter wants to stay in the trenches. He believes his competitiveness and defensive mindset will set the tone for the entire roster.
“I think [the players] will feel my competitiveness, they'll feel my mentality every day,” he said. “And I think we'll work hand-in-hand together to build a great team.”
That hands-on approach means Minter might follow a path similar to Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay-running the defense himself and potentially skipping the hire of a traditional defensive coordinator. But don’t lock that in just yet.
The Ravens have already requested an interview with Denver Broncos assistant Jim Leonhard, who appears to be high on Minter’s list. Bringing in someone like Leonhard would give the Ravens another sharp defensive mind in the building, even if Minter retains play-calling duties.
This isn’t Minter’s first stint in Baltimore, either. He knows the building, the culture, and the expectations.
From 2017 to 2020, he climbed the ranks on the Ravens’ defensive staff, starting as a defensive assistant before becoming the assistant defensive backs coach and eventually taking over the DBs room in 2020. That familiarity could help smooth his transition into the top job.
"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
After leaving Baltimore, Minter took his talents to the college game, where he engineered a top-10 defense at Vanderbilt-no small feat given the program’s usual place in the SEC hierarchy. That success earned him a call from Jim Harbaugh, who brought him to Michigan as defensive coordinator in 2022. When Harbaugh made the jump back to the NFL with the Chargers in 2024, Minter went with him.
That connection to both Harbaugh brothers-John in Baltimore and Jim in Michigan and Los Angeles-has shaped Minter’s coaching DNA. He’s spent eight of the past nine seasons working under one of the two, and now he’s stepping into his own spotlight with the franchise where his NFL journey really took off.
Minter’s approach is clear: lead with what you know, stay close to your strengths, and build from the inside out. If his track record is any indication, the Ravens’ defense is in steady-and aggressive-hands.