For the first time in nearly two decades, there will be another head coach on the other side of the field when the Cincinnati Bengals play the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore moved on from John Harbaugh after failing to make the playoffs in 2025, and after several interviews, they landed on Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to replace him.
Minter worked on Baltimore’s defensive staff from 2017 until 2020, before one season as Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator. After leaving Vanderbilt, Minter was the defensive coordinator at The University of Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, ironically enough. Minter would build a defense that helped Michigan win the 2023 National Championship before making the jump to the NFL with Jim Harbaugh.
Minter, who was a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati in 2007 and 2008, helped revamp the Charger defense and get them back to the postseason, but they weren’t able to advance. Several teams showed interest in him, but he has now landed back in Baltimore.
His skills as a coordinator can’t be denied, but we have seen several coaches be great coordinators, but struggle to lead the whole team. That could be the case with Minter. Mike MacDonald, who Minter succeeded at Michigan, had a similar path. He worked with the Ravens, went to Michigan, came back to Baltimore, and now has the Seattle Seahawks one win away from the Super Bowl.
Minter could have similar success, or he could flame out as a head coach. The AFC North is more likely to trend upward than it is to have a down year, as we saw in 2025, so Minter could have his work cut out for him. The Bengals are the only team he will face with a sure thing at quarterback in 2026, so you can expect the defensive-minded Minter to try to develop a plan for the likes of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
Zac Taylor will now face three new coaches in the AFC North this season, so here’s to hoping his veteran status gives him the edge in those matchups.
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