It's official. The Los Angeles Chargers have lost defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who is going to become the Baltimore Ravens' new head coach.
On one hand, this is a sad and painful reality the Chargers knew was inevitable. Minter's success was going to earn him a head coaching opportunity, and the team must now reckon with the aftermath.
On the other hand, this is a well-deserved promotion for Minter. After two seasons of elevating the Chargers' defense beyond their pay grade, Minter now gets the perfect opportunity to take another talented team to the next level.
Los Angeles safety Derwin James, in his reaction to the news on social media, echoed every Chargers fan's sentiment regarding the hire:
Earned so happy for you coach Love you big dog ‼️ https://t.co/oUftsAXFwV
— Derwin James Jr (@DerwinJames) January 22, 2026
As painful as his departure might be, there is one sentence that should be echoing through the Los Angeles fandom.
Thank you, Jesse Minter.
Jesse Minter will now get the NFL's premier coaching opportunity
As the vacancies in this offseason's coaching carousel began to crystallize, John Harbaugh's firing was nothing short of surprising. The former Ravens head coach had spent 18 seasons with the organization, earning a 180-113 record and winning a Super Bowl in that span.
However, the team has fallen short the past few seasons even when Lamar Jackson has played at a historic level. Change was needed in Baltimore, and Minter certainly represents that.
There's a reason that Minter's departure seemed inevitable from the moment of Harbaugh's firing. It is the perfect fit for someone of his schematic aptitude.
Baltimore has immense talent on defense, especially in the secondary. Malaki Starks and Kyle Hamilton will soon represent a formidable duo for Minter to mold as he pleases. The past two seasons, the Ravens have finished ninth and third in total yards allowed, respectively.
Minter, who is known for the zone-heavy scheme he implemented with the Chargers, will have even better tools to utilize in Baltimore.
He will now be the one tasked with taking a generational quarterback to the summit he has long sought after. It's a tall task, but Minter is certainly up for the challenge.
While the Chargers search for a new defensive coordinator, fans will understandably be disappointed. Minter's departure represents a major hit towards Los Angeles's chances of Super Bowl contention.
Yet as James says, this promotion is something that Minter has undeniably earned. Once the time for mourning passes, Chargers fans must celebrate Minter's remarkable accomplishments.