Soon, the Tennessee Titans coaching search will be at the top of everyone’s minds, and for good reason. This is a critical time for the franchise with rookie Cam Ward in place and his development front and center to the team’s long-term success. 

In her recent article for The Athletic, Dianna Russini outlined a list of potential targets for general manager Mike Borgonzi, and it was surprisingly tilted toward defense. 

With the Titans’ season winding down, Titans Wire is going to dive into some of those potential candidates to see what would make them an attractive hire in Nashville. The next one we will tackle is Jesse Minter. 

Jesse Minter – Defensive coordinator – Los Angeles Chargers

Minter is a hot name in coaching searches, both in college and in the NFL, and could easily find his way to a sideline outside of SoFi Stadium. 

Compared with some other names, Minter may not have the same level of experience, but his NFL pedigree runs deep. The son of longtime NFL coach Rick Minter, he has been in the coaching profession since starting as a coaching intern at Notre Dame in 2006, then as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati for two seasons. 

His next stop was at Indiana State University, where he moved from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator during his four seasons. He then moved on to Georgia State for four seasons before jumping to the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens. 

Minter’s first NFL stint saw him move through the staff and eventually take over as defensive backs coach in 2020. After his four years in Baltimore, he became the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt in 2021 and was then hired by Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, Minter’s defense flourished, and the nation’s top-ranked unit led the Wolverines to the national championship in 2023. 

Minter followed Harbaugh to the Chargers in 2024 and has proven that his schemes and feel for the game will translate to the NFL. The Chargers’ defense, even when challenged by injury, is stout, and currently ranks second in yards allowed (279.1) and sixth in yards per play (4.95), 

Potential fit

Minter will have to answer the same question that other defensive-minded candidates face: What is the plan for Cam Ward and the offense? 

At age 42 and armed with extensive college experience, Minter should be able to relate to today’s NFL players, plus he comes from an organization that features an elite quarterback and a physical style. 

Tennessee has some defensive talent that could thrive in his system, and his years of experience as a secondary coach would be an asset and make him an attractive candidate. But the prospect of taking over the Michigan program could be too compelling for him to ignore.Â