Newly minted Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, Jesse Minter's story is not one of overnight success. Rather, it's one of perseverance, of family, of treating every setback as a learning experience, and living a life with a purpose: to lift others up.
In 2002, Minter transferred to Mount St. Joseph University with one goal: to play football. As a wide receiver, Minter helped the Lions compile a 30-10 record with consecutive conference titles and two Division III playoff appearances. But it wasn't without setbacks. In his first season at the Mount, he broke his leg. This was followed by emergency surgery for Crohn's disease. In his third season, he broke his arm.
In Photo: Jesse Minter in front row, #10, 4th from the left.
Back then, reaching the NFL was admittedly more of a dream than a goal.
"It was something I thought would be cool, but I didn't know the path it would take to get here," he says.
It was when his playing days were over, however, that he would begin the work that would eventually lead him to his current post: working alongside the Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach, Jim Harbaugh, strategizing defensive measures to take down the division's perennial powerhouse, the Kansas City Chiefs. As the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, Minter isn't letting anything hinder the continuation of his family's football legacy and is cementing his own legacy in the process.
On September 2, Minter, featured in The New York Times, noted that he still has the first 98 rejection letters he received while looking for a job after graduating from the Mount with a degree in liberal studies in 2005.
Eventually, he landed a dream job for someone so young: a defensive intern at the University of Notre Dame.
Next, he worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati—the same institution where his father, Rick, had once served as head coach from 2007 to 2008. He then spent four years at Indiana State as linebackers coach and later defensive coordinator, a position he would hold again at Georgia State University, from 2013 to 2016.
Minter got his first taste of the NFL working for a different Harbaugh—Jim's brother, John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. There, Minter served as a defensive assistant (2017 to 2019) and later defensive backs coach (2020). He spent one year as the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt University before heading to the University of Michigan to work under Jim Harbaugh, later following him to the NFL. At Michigan, he was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2022, an honor presented annually to college football's top assistant coach.
Minter says growing up in a coaching household helped him "develop a deeper appreciation and love for the game." However, he says the biggest key to his coaching development and progress has been treating every job as if it's the highlight of his career.
"Every time we move or go somewhere else, it's just another chance to leave a place better than I found it," he says. "I've also realized the jobs you don't get are sometimes the biggest blessings."
Minter delivered the keynote address at the Mount's 114th Commencement in May.
In Photo: Jesse Minter delivering keynote address at the Mount's 114th Commencement.
"I said in my commencement speech that after getting fired at Georgia State, there was a job in my hometown that I wanted and felt I was the best candidate for," he says. "After interviewing, I was very disappointed that I didn't get it. A week later, John Harbaugh hired me at the Ravens."
If Minter had gotten the job in his hometown, he says he's not sure he'd be where he is today.
"At the end of the day, every experience is valuable, good or bad," he says. "I see them all as learning opportunities."
He offers similar advice for those looking to follow in his footsteps.
"Any experience in coaching is a good experience—always try to find ways to improve," he says. "Try to go to various camps or clinics, to meet coaches, and expand your network. At the end of the day, embrace the journey and treat every job like it's the best you've ever had."
Now, in the throes of another NFL season, Minter is focused on one task: setting operational standards, while also developing and nurturing strong relationships throughout the organization, through both good times and bad. He makes it a point not to concern himself with anything but his own responsibilities, including others' salaries and lamenting injuries.
"I'm sensitive to it, we are all human, but I owe it to the rest of the defense to still put them in the best position to have team success," he says.
What does personal and professional success look like to Minter?
His answer reflects the same humble yet competitive nature that continues to serve him well on and off the field.
"Success would be to be known as a family guy, being a loving husband, and a supportive father to my kids," he says. "Relationships are most important to me. Success related to football would be a player feeling I impacted his career in a positive way, or an organization feeling I've impacted it in a positive way. I'm just always trying to leave a place better than I found it. But also, I wouldn't hate a Super Bowl ring."
On Jan. 22, 2026, the Baltimore Ravens announced Jesse Minter as their new head coach.
In Featured Photo: Photo credit to Baltimore Ravens
