After a defining win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, the LA Chargers traveled to Sin City looking for more of the same against the Las Vegas Raiders. That is exactly what the Chargers found in the Southern Nevada desert, thoroughly defeating the Raiders 20-9.
Fans are riding high after two huge division wins to start the season. This is the best start to the season the Chargers have had in quite some time and the expectations are as high as they have been in two decades. This team has all the makings of being special.
However, when you are a premier team in the NFL it typically comes at a cost. After just two games of the 2025 season, chatter is already starting about defensive coordinator Jesse Minter getting a head coaching job next winter. The better the Chargers play, the more these talks will intensify.
Chargers' success comes with unfortunate Jesse Minter reality
Minter's name came up during the head coach cycle this past offseason but he didn't have enough experience to land a job over other candidates. The 2024 season was Minter's first in the NFL, and he led the Chargers to have the top-scoring offense in the league.
Minter has continued his 2024 success into the 2025 season. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs couldn't do anything of note against the Chargers defense. Geno Smith played his worst game since becoming a starter again, throwing three picks and not completing a single pass of over 10 air yards.
While this Chargers defense undoubtedly has talent, it's undeniable that Minter is elevating every single player in that unit to play at their absolute best. Minter has taken projects and turned them into producers. He's turned potential into stars. Heck, he even saved Derwin James, who was regressing under Brandon Staley and once again looks like the best safety in the NFL.
Minter followed Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers from the University of Michigan. Prior to his stint as Michigan's defensive coordinator, Minter served as a defensive assistant for the Baltimore Ravens.
Minter is the poster child for the Harbaugh coaching tree. He's now been a part of two extremely successful NFL coaching staffs, as well as an elite NCAA coaching staff.
Teams looking to tap into the Harbaugh coaching tree will take a long look at Minter this upcoming offseason. And if the Chargers continue down this path, the 2025 season may be guaranteed to be Minter's last in LA.