As Michigan football begins the search for its next head coach, one name floating just below the surface-but gaining traction-is Jesse Minter. And while he might not be the most obvious candidate, he’s certainly one of the more intriguing ones.
Let’s break it down.
Minter is currently the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers under Jim Harbaugh. But Wolverine fans know him well-he was the architect of Michigan’s defense during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, a two-year stretch that culminated in a national championship. His units were relentless, disciplined, and smart-everything you’d want in a team built to win in January.
So, does Minter make sense as Michigan’s next head coach? In a word: absolutely.
His defensive pedigree is undeniable. During his time in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s defense was the backbone of the program.
And now, in the NFL, he’s doing it again, helping steer a Chargers team that’s pushing toward the postseason. That kind of success at both the college and pro levels isn’t easy to come by-and it makes him a compelling option for a college program looking to stay on top.
But here’s where it gets complicated.
The NFL calendar doesn’t line up neatly with the college coaching carousel. With three weeks left in the regular season, it’s unlikely Minter would leave the Chargers mid-run.
And he shouldn’t. He’s earned the right to see this season through, especially with playoff football on the horizon.
Michigan could theoretically announce a hire and wait-like Notre Dame once did with Charlie Weis-but that was a different era. The transfer portal changes everything now.
Timing matters more than ever.
Then there’s the question of what Minter wants. Does he even want to be a college head coach?
That’s not a rhetorical question. With the way his NFL stock is rising, he may be just a season or two away from landing a head coaching job at the pro level.
That’s not speculation-it’s the natural trajectory for a coach who’s proven he can lead elite units on both Saturdays and Sundays.
And if he does take the Michigan job, how long would he stay?
We’ve seen this movie before. Jim Harbaugh’s flirtations with the NFL were a near-annual storyline.
Minter could be the sequel. If he wins in Ann Arbor-and there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t-he’d be a hot name in every NFL hiring cycle.
That kind of success comes with a price: constant rumors, constant questions, and potentially a short tenure.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If Minter comes in and delivers another national title, even a few years of that would be worth it.
But it does raise the question of long-term stability. Would Michigan be better off with someone like Kenny Dillingham, a coach who might be in it for the long haul?
That’s the balance Michigan has to strike-immediate success versus potential continuity.
Minter checks a lot of boxes. He knows the program.
He’s proven he can lead a dominant defense. He’s already earned respect at the NFL level.
But he doesn’t have deep Michigan roots, and he may have his eyes set on Sundays rather than Saturdays.
Still, if Michigan wants to keep the momentum going from the Harbaugh era, Minter would be a strong-and familiar-choice. He might not be the long-term answer, but he could be the right one for right now.