LA Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has done such a great job of turning around the Bolts' defense that he is already garnering head coach buzz despite only being a coordinator in the NFL for one season.
The New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears have all fired their former head coaches and will be in the market this offseason. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders are all reasonable guesses for teams that could fire their head coaches once the season culminates.
The more job openings there are the more likely it is that Minter would leave the Chargers in 2025. However, Minter's lack of NFL experience compared to other candidates may ultimately help the Chargers, as it could even take him out of the running for one of the current openings.
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the Jets reportedly favor experience in their head coach search this offseason. This favors candidates such as Mike Vrabel much more than it does Minter.
Discussing the #Jets search for their next GM & HC, what New York is looking for, and why there is appeal around the NFL for both. pic.twitter.com/NmnwMZraur
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) December 22, 2024
Jets favoring experience bodes well for Chargers' chances of keeping Jesse Minter
As Hughes mentions in the video above, not having experience is not a dealbreaker for the Jets so the Chargers cannot rule New York out as a landing spot for Minter. However, experience is the one thing Minter lacks, which may move him down the list in New York.
This is ultimately a good thing for the Chargers, who should want to keep Minter as long as possible. What Minter has done with this group of defenders is nothing short of remarkable. Sure, the numbers are padded by playing bad quarterbacks and offenses but it is also important to factor in the talent Minter is working with.
Minter has elevated guys like Kristian Fulton and Denzel Perryman to play at levels that did not seem fathomable before the season. Rookies Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart have thrived in the secondary in large part due to Minter. It is rare to have not one, but two rookie corners instantly be impactful in the NFL.
The Chargers need to build on this foundation that Minter has created because once the team adds more defensive talent it will be even more dangerous on that side of the football. While there would be a backfill for Minter if he were to leave, it is undoubtedly easier to keep the momentum with the same coordinator running the show.
Even if experience wasn't a qualifier, Minter doesn't really align with what the Jets should be looking to add. They already tried the first-time defensive-minded head coach and it didn't work out. Minter is no Robert Saleh, but New York may prefer to bring in an offensive-minded head coach over a defensive-minded one.
The same can be said for several of the other openings in the league. Chicago should want an offensive-minded coach to pair with Caleb Williams. As should the Jaguars with Trevor Lawrence, or the Raiders and Giants with their likely rookie quarterbacks next season.
New Orleans could be a wild card to bring Minter in but is that really worth it for the Chargers' defensive coordinator? It is not unheard of for coordinators to wait out for a good job (that is what Ben Johnson did last year) and staying in LA seems much more favorable than jumping on a sinking ship in New Orleans.
All in all, while it is still on the table as anything can happen, the latest Jets coaching rumors are more proof that Minter may stay in Los Angeles after all in 2025.