The Las Vegas Raiders are deep into their head coaching search, and things are starting to take shape. According to reports, the team has completed a second interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, signaling that he’s firmly in the mix for the job.
Minter isn’t the only name on the Raiders’ radar. Here’s where things stand in their coaching search, with a clear group of finalists beginning to emerge:
Finalists:
- Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel (Scheduled)
- Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero (Scheduled)
- Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter (Interviewed)
Other Candidates:
- Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph (Interviewed)
- Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (Interviewed)
- Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy (Interviewed)
- Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb (Requested)
- Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase (Scheduled)
- Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur (Requested)
- Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula (Requested)
- Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
Let’s take a closer look at Minter, whose stock continues to rise.
At 42, Minter has quietly built one of the most well-rounded résumés in coaching. He got his start as a defensive intern at Notre Dame back in 2006, and over the next decade, he climbed the collegiate ranks with stops at Cincinnati, Indiana State, and Georgia State. His jump to the NFL came in 2017 when he joined the Baltimore Ravens, eventually becoming their defensive backs coach in 2020.
After a one-year stint as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator in 2021, Minter took over Michigan’s defense, where he helped craft one of the most dominant units in college football. That success followed him to the NFL once again, as he joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Chargers in 2024.
And the results? Impressive.
In 2025, the Chargers defense finished fifth in the league in points allowed and ninth in total defense. They were especially stout against the pass, ranking fifth, and held their own against the run, coming in at eighth.
That kind of balance speaks volumes. Minter’s defenses don’t just hang their hat on one strength-they’re built to handle whatever an offense throws at them. That versatility is exactly what a team like the Raiders, who are looking to establish a new identity, might find appealing.
With second interviews underway and finalists being locked in, the Raiders’ coaching search is entering its final stages. Whether Minter is the man for the job remains to be seen, but there’s no question he’s made a strong impression.
We’ll continue tracking the latest as the Raiders zero in on their next head coach.