Jesse Minter has become one of the hottest names in the head coaching market because of what he's done with the LA Chargers' defense in two short years. A Harbaugh disciple through and through, Minter is an intriguing option for teams looking to reset their culture.
On Thursday, the Chargers got what seems like good news at first glance. Minter canceled his second interview with the Cleveland Browns, which is exactly what Mike McDaniel did before taking the Chargers' offensive coordinator job. However, this time, it may be for the wrong reasons.
According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, Minter canceled his second interview with the Browns because he feels like he has other head coaching opportunities that are more certain. In other words: Minter is probably gearing up to take a job elsewhere.
Jesse Minter leaving the Chargers is all but confirmed
Of course, anything can happen and there is still a slim chance Minter returns to the Chargers next season. He could always have a change of heart, although that seems unlikely given the circumstances.
Minter is heavily tied to both the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders jobs. Minter got his NFL start in Baltimore under John Harbaugh, and would theoretically allow the Ravens to maintain that culture while getting a breath of fresh air.
Las Vegas has seen firsthand what Minter is capable of and he has the Michigan connection to minority owner Tom Brady. If Minter can bring in the right offensive coordinator for Fernando Mendoza, his Michigan ties very well could get him the job.
There was hope among Chargers fans that Minter would pull a Ben Johnson and coach one more year under Harbaugh in pursuit of a Super Bowl trophy. Initially, that seemed like a real possibility only because the first wave of head coaching jobs was not that impressive.
However, the prospect of coaching Lamar Jackson or the likely No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is obviously enticing. And with there only being 32 humans on Earth who can call themselves a head coach of an NFL team, Minter appears likely to make the leap.
Minter leaving would have a huge impact on the Chargers, but the team can get through it. It's not like Minter is solely responsible for all of the team's defensive success, and the hope is that one of his assistants can take over the reins and put into action what they learned.
Either way, Jim Harbaugh probably has to start thinking about who he will hire to replace Minter, if he hasn't been already.