The NFL coaching carousel took another unexpected turn this week, as former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was named the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. It’s a bold move by the franchise, especially considering the backdrop of recent NCAA sanctions that implicated multiple Michigan staffers - Minter included - in a high-profile sign-stealing scandal.
The Ravens’ decision comes just days after longtime head coach John Harbaugh was let go after 19 seasons at the helm. In stepping away from one Harbaugh, Baltimore now turns to a coach who worked closely with another: Jim Harbaugh, who recently left Michigan to take over the Los Angeles Chargers. When Harbaugh made that jump to the NFL, Minter followed him - a move that allowed him to sidestep the NCAA's show-cause penalty handed down as part of the fallout from the Connor Stalions investigation.
Minter’s transition from college defensive coordinator to NFL head coach is certainly a fast one, and one that raises eyebrows - not just because of his limited NFL experience, but also due to the cloud that still lingers from Michigan’s sign-stealing operation. While the NCAA levied penalties against multiple Michigan staffers, the program itself avoided the harshest institutional punishments. And now, two of the most prominent figures involved - Harbaugh and Minter - are both on NFL sidelines, seemingly unaffected by the controversy that engulfed their final season in Ann Arbor.
For Ohio State, this latest development hits close to home. The Buckeyes were directly impacted by the scandal during the season, and while they’ve stayed clear of any wrongdoing themselves, they’ve had to watch as rival coaches involved in the controversy land on their feet - and in some cases, with promotions. One former Ohio State defensive coordinator also landed a head coaching job in the NFL, but unlike Minter, his name was never tied to any off-field infractions.
The reality is, the NFL operates on a different axis. Winning is the currency, and if a coach can help deliver results, past collegiate controversies often take a backseat.
That appears to be the case here. Baltimore clearly believes Minter can bring value to their franchise, and they’re betting that his defensive acumen - which helped Michigan field one of the top units in college football - will translate to the pro level.
Still, it’s a striking juxtaposition: while college programs are left to navigate the repercussions of NCAA investigations, the NFL remains largely indifferent, focused solely on what happens between the lines. Minter’s rise from embattled coordinator to head coach is a reminder of just how differently the two worlds operate - and how quickly reputations can be reshaped when winning becomes the only metric that matters.