Jan. 29, 2026, 7:26 p.m. ET

By now, you’ve no doubt read Jesse Minter’s biography one or two times. You’ve probably heard it more than thrice. The Baltimore Ravens‘ new head coach is still young, but already owns a resume most would envy.

The journey began as a defensive intern on Charlie Weis Sr.’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish coaching staff (2006). He moved on after a year there to become a Cincinnati Bearcats graduate assistant (2007-08). Four years at Indiana State (2009-12) led him to Georgia State (2013-16) before the Ravens came calling.

Most of us met him in 2017. We didn’t know we were looking at the future head coach at the time, but we all saw raw potential. In 2021, he worked as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores before serving as defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines (2022-23) and Los Angeles Chargers (2024-25).

It has been quite the journey. Was working his way up that way worth it? You bet it was. Coach Minter touched on that after being introduced by Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, president Sashi Brown, and general manager Eric DeCosta in his introductory press conference.

“It makes it really special. I went into this process, and I told Eric [DeCosta] this. It wasn’t because I knew everybody here that I wanted this job. It was because of my time here that I was able to see how this place operates, and knowing that everything is in place to be a championship organization.”

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Coach Bisciotti’s time in Baltimore began as part of his predecessor’s coaching staff. He was a defensive assistant (2017-18). He was eventually named assistant defensive backs coach (2019). One year later, he shaved ‘assistant’ from his title.

“I think my time being here allowed me to see that. I certainly just have the respect and humility of working your way up, and now, I think anybody that comes into our coaching staff, comes into our organization, you put your head down, and you go to work, and you work every day to try to be the best, whatever that role is, whether it’s the defensive assistant, the assistant defensive backs coach, the defensive backs coach, and now as the head coach. If you really focus on that and try to be the best at your job, anything is possible. It’s great to have that. This is a great opportunity, and I look forward to the journey.”

He was also asked about his reputation. Some Chargers players have described him as an alpha. Others who have worked with him describe someone different. When asked about growing into a leader who can command a room, he offered the following as his response:

“I think it’s learning. It’s just always trying to evolve, always trying to get better. I think when I came in here, I had been a small college defensive coordinator, so I had stood up in front of the room and called defenses before and done those things. But, I really made it a point here to come in and learn and listen and get to know the players and learn from them about what it took to be successful at this level. I had great players around and great coaches to work with, and then just my confidence has grown as I’ve been in those positions now for a while. [When you have] been in the leadership positions, your confidence grows, and your own style sort of begins to come out. I think that’s really been the evolvement, but it’s really about trying to get better every day, trying to learn and grow, learn from everybody, listen to people and always try to get better. I think that’s what’s led me to this point.”

He’ll call the defensive plays. He can’t wait to deploy his new weapon, Kyle Hamilton. He describes Lamar Jackson as the game’s best player.

His mindset was earned, not inherited. It’s what makes this moment feel different. Jesse Minter has grown from that defensive assistant at Notre Dame. He arrived prepared for this responsibility. The journey he’s spent nearly two decades building is now his to define. Something tells us he’s going to do well.