The Baltimore Ravens are returning to a defensive-minded coach, and general manager Eric DeCosta explained why Jesse Minter was hired.
The Baltimore Ravens have been known for decades for being a defensive-first team. However, things changed when Lamar Jackson came into the starting quarterback role.
That is not to say that the Ravens have lost their defensive identity, but many wondered what direction the organization would go after John Harbaugh was fired. Defense was the side that won with the Jesse Minter hire, but general manager Eric DeCosta explains the bigger reason for hiring Minter.
Minter has been on the rise throughout his career, and it was only a matter of time before he got a chance to lead his own team. He knows the Ravens organization well, having served as an assistant coach under Harbaugh during the 2017 to 2020 seasons.
Minter was the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2024 to 2025 and helped turn that side of the ball into a top 10 unit.
Now, he gets the chance to work with his former team and host of Pro Bowl and All-Pro players. While the Ravens have returned to a defensive-minded head coach, DeCosta spoke about finding the best available, and it had far less to do with his prowess on defense.
During "Final Drive" with Shelby Lasso, she sat down with DeCosta, where he broke down his thought process on hiring Minter.
"I think my approach was basically like the draft, that we were gonna find the best available coach, in this case. The guy that checked off the most boxes, the guy that had a great ability to lead this team, and a guy that commands respect on one side of the ball. I think in talking to Jesse, it's also a guy thing, and you start to imagine what this guy will be like in a crisis situation, what will this guy be like when we win a game, what will this guy be like at halftime, or in the offseason building a team, or talking to players, trying to rally the troops, and all these things, hiring a coaching staff, which is something I think Jesse will really excel at..."
DeCosta also envisions what the team could look like with Minter running the defense, stating they will be "fast at the ball" on defense, and "aggressive on offense."
Injuries derailed both sides of the ball for the Ravens in 2025, and the second and third-tier players need to be overhauled under DeCosta and Minter. Baltimore still has a playoff-caliber team, but there are several things to clean up to be ready.
For Minter, his main job will be to put together his coaching staff.