There's a real chance Jim Harbaugh has to replace both of his coordinators this offseason. Harbaugh fired Greg Roman on Tuesday after an anemic Chargers offense scored just three points against the New England Patriots.
While Roman packs his boxes and leaves the Chargers facility, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is interviewing for all eight head coach vacancies throughout the NFL. Minter is a hot name in the coaching cycle, and with so many quality openings, it feels inevitable that he will leave Los Angeles this winter.
Minter's rise from college coordinator to NFL head coach candidate was meteoric and certainly happened quicker than Chargers fans wanted it to. While it was Minter's coaching ability that first put him in the spotlight, the success of the Seattle Seahawks might be to blame for his high standing in league circles.
The plan is, after doing the Titans and Cardinals today, for Minter to do two Wednesday, two Thursday and two Friday. And I do think Mike Macdonald's success in Seattle helps him—they worked together under Wink Martindale in Baltimore, and Minter succeeded Macdonald at Michigan. https://t.co/SmMXQbRV3J
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 13, 2026
Mike Macdonald's success may drive Jesse Minter to leave the Chargers
Mike Macdonald has been a revelation for the Seattle Seahawks, who won the No. 1 seed in the NFC in just his second season as head coach. Minter has a very similar past as Macdonald, which is undoubtedly helping his stock in the coaching search.
It goes beyond both coaches being part of Wink Martindale's offensive coaching tree. Both Macdonald and Minter coached under the Harbaugh brothers at the college and NFL level. Minter coached for the Ravens before joining the Michigan staff, while Macdonald coached at Michigan before joining Baltimore's staff.
The NFL is a copycat league and when there is one successful coaching tree the rest of the league looks to latch onto it. That is why Sean McVay's coaching tree is poached every single offseason. Just go back and look at the 2020 Rams coaching staff, most of those coaches hold prominent jobs throughout the NFL.
That is the one downside to having a great, established head coach like Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers are naturally opening themselves up to coaching turnover every single offseason. And with one Harbaugh disciple piloting one of the best teams in the league, Minter looks like an even better option despite his limited experience as an NFL coordinator.
If Macdonald went to Seattle and put together back-to-back terrible seasons, it would be a different story. Minter's name would still be in the mix, but teams would have viewed Macdonald as a warning sign, not as a source of inspiration.
But with Macdonald firmly establishing himself as one of the best young head coaches in the league, teams are inevitably convincing themselves that Minter is the next diamond in the rough.
And that sucks for the Chargers.