The Baltimore Ravens are set to kick off a new era of the franchise in 2026, as the team moved on from head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons due to an underwhelming 2025 campaign.
Harbaugh is a legendary coach, but it was clear that both sides needed a fresh start. The 2012 Super Bowl champion is now a highly-coveted coaching candidate on the market, while the Ravens will be looking for their next head coach who can steer the franchise back in the right direction.
There are many head coaching options for Baltimore to choose from, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler pinpointed a young defensive coordinator on an AFC playoff team that should intrigue the Ravens.
Fowler believes Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a potential fit in Baltimore due to his ties to the organization and similarities to Harbaugh.
"Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter could fit the Baltimore mold to replace Harbaugh. He has ties to the organization as a former Harbaugh assistant," Fowler wrote.
"And when I asked someone who knows Minter well about his coaching style, the first word used was 'conscientious,' which is important in Baltimore -- particularly with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who will most likely want to build a relationship with his new coach from the ground up. He values that," Fowler added.
Minter has done a terrific job with the Chargers' defense, as the unit ranks is a top ten scoring defense and is also a top five passing defense. The young defensive coordinator will inevitably land a head coaching job at some point in the future, but there's a good chance that happens this year.
The Ravens desperately need a fresh approach. Minter would provide that, and his connection to Baltimore is also evident. Minter served on Harbaugh's coaching staff with the Ravens from 2017 to 2020, first as a defensive assistant and later as a secondary coach.
Baltimore will have plenty of candidates to consider, but Minter should be near the top of their list, as he's elevated Los Angeles' defense this year and is one of the brightest up-and-coming defensive minds in the sport.