The Los Angeles Chargers stand the risk of losing their up-and-coming defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, this offseason. He's already gotten buzz surrounding the vacancies that the Tennessee Titans and the Las Vegas Raiders have, and it is certain that at least one more team will emerge before the hiring cycle completes.
In many ways, his departure is unavoidable. The Chargers defense has been among the premier units in the NFL during his two-year tenure, and organizations love to seek out young coaches with fresh ideas.
However, if the path that Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson followed serves as any indication, Minter could be sticking around in Los Angeles for one more year before the ideal opportunity find him.
Staying in LA another year could be Jesse Minter's best option
Ben Johnson, the former forward-thinking offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, has found immense success in his first year as a head coach. Chicago has won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams has already taken massive strides under his offensive structure.
Minter, as a similarly savvy mind on the defensive side of the ball, could make the jump in the near future.
Yet it's important to remember that Johnson did not rush his transition into head coaching.
He was the hottest name in the 2024 coaching cycle. However, when Jim Harbaugh ultimately got the Chargers job, there were no avenues to favorable situations for the ascending coordinator. He ultimately opted to return to Detroit for another season.
Although that choice did not yield a Super Bowl, it did ultimately allow Johnson a path to the Chicago job.
For Minter, there's reason to believe things might play out similarly.
Although the Titans, Raiders, and perhaps the New York Giants jobs will be available, none of these teams present favorable structures or premier opportunities for Minter.
If he were to return to the Chargers for one more year, there are a number of positions that could open up. Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals is likely on thin ice after another disappointing season. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys could all be in a similar position depending on the results that 2026 yields.
Not to mention that Los Angeles will be poised to, at the very least, be competitive in the Super Bowl race next season.
If Minter is ultimately forced to choose between two undesirable jobs in Tennessee and Las Vegas, he could follow Johnson's path, allowing the Chargers to retain their coordinator for one more year.