Dolphins Arrange HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh
The Dolphins were recently among the teams to request an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as well as 49ers DC Robert Saleh. Both in-demand staffers will speak with Miami. 
Minter and Saleh will conduct interviews with the Dolphins today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both will take place virtually, per NFL rules. Three other candidates have already interviewed once with Miami, and another will do so this weekend.
The Dolphins continue to widen their search for one of the eight remaining head coaching vacancies around the league (presuming John Harbaugh‘s Giants deal winds up being finalized as expected). Miami’s most recent process resulted in a highly-regarded Kyle Shanahan staffer taking over (Mike McDaniel). The team could wind up taking a similar route by hiring Saleh, who returned to San Francisco in 2025 following the end of his Jets head coaching tenure.
Saleh’s unit has dealt with a slew of injuries this season but it has helped bring the 49ers to the divisional round of the playoffs. San Francisco’s D-coordinator from 2017-20 during his first stint with the team, Saleh would provide the Dolphins or any other suitor with an experienced presence on the sidelines. The 46-year-old is also one of the top candidates to have served as a head coach at the NFL level.
Minter, meanwhile, has received an interview request from every team seeking a new head coach. That comes as little surprise, but it underscores the competition Miami could face in a potential bidding war for his services. The Dolphins’ opening was recently reported to be seen as less attractive than others around the league. It will be interesting to see if that impacts the choices made by some of the top candidates as they weigh their options.
A defensive coordinator with multiple college teams, Minter has held that role with the Chargers for the past two years. His success in that capacity has landed him firmly in the conversation to become a head coach during the 2026 hiring cycle. Quarterback uncertainty looms over the Dolphins right now, but Minter, 42, would primarily be tasked with overseeing the team’s defense in the event he were to land the HC gig.
Here is an updated look at Miami’s search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): To interview 1/19
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed 1/14
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To interview 1/15
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview 1/15
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kelvin Sheppard, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
Steelers Request HC Interviews With Jesse Minter, Brian Flores, Anthony Weaver
The Steelers continue adding candidates in their search for a new head coach. They’ve requested interviews with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Vikings D-coordinator Brian Flores and Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, per reports from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Looking for a replacement for Mike Tomlin, whose 19-year run with the franchise ended Tuesday, the Steelers previously sent out interview requests for Rams assistants Chris Shula and Nate Scheelhaase. Aside from Scheelhaase, all of the Steelers’ early candidates come with a defensive background. The same was true of Tomlin when the Steelers hired him in January 2007.
Minter doesn’t have any head coaching experience, but his strong work as an assistant has made him a hot commodity across the league. All nine teams with a head coaching vacancy have either requested an interview or have conducted one with the 42-year-old, who has effectively teamed with Jim Harbaugh over the past few seasons.
Minter was Harbaugh’s D-coordinator at Michigan from 2022-23. He followed Harbaugh to the Chargers after a national championship-winning campaign with the Wolverines. The Chargers’ defense has ranked near the top of the league in back-to-back seasons under Minter. The unit finished 2024 first in scoring and 11th in yards, and it ranked ninth in scoring and fifth in yards this season.
Flores, who went 24-25 as the Dolphins’ head coach from 2019-21, was on Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh in 2022. He served as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach that year. Flores then left to run the Vikings’ defense, a group that finished 2025 third in yards and seventh in points. Flores’ contract is now up after three successful seasons, but head coach Kevin O’Connell has made it known that retaining him is a high priority. However, the Vikings will have to fend off teams that consider Flores a head coaching candidate and others that want him as a defensive coordinator.
Weaver has already held head coaching interviews with the Cardinals, Falcons and Ravens in the past week. A former defensive lineman with the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08, Weaver has coached with those two teams and the Jets, Bills, Browns and Dolphins since 2012. He was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator from 2024-25, but with head coach Mike McDaniel out, Weaver’s future in Miami is uncertain. Even if the 45-year-old doesn’t leave the Dolphins for a head coaching job, he could be an assistant elsewhere in 2026.
Dolphins Request HC Interviews With Joe Brady, Anthony Campanile
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile are officially on the list of head coaching candidates for the Dolphins. The Dolphins have requested interviews with Brady and Campanile, according to reports from Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Brady, who’s in his second full season as the Bills’ O-coordinator, initially took the reins on an interim basis in November 2023. Then the Bills’ quarterbacks coach, Brady stepped in when Sean McDermott fired Ken Dorsey. The offense showed enough positives under Brady for the Bills to promote him to the full-time job.
After finishing second in scoring and 10th in total offense in 2024, a year in which quarterback Josh Allen won MVP honors, Brady landed on the head coaching radar last winter. The Bears, Jaguars, Jets and Saints all interviewed him before hiring other candidates.
Despite a lack of high-end receiving talent, Brady coached the Bills’ offense to fourth-place rankings in points and yards during the regular season. Allen’s strong play continued, while James Cook led the league in rushing during a 12-win campaign. Brady and the Bills then knocked off Campanile and the Jaguars in last week’s wild-card round. Buffalo will head to Denver for a divisional round meeting on Saturday.
The Dolphins join the Ravens as teams to request a meeting with the 36-year-old Brady, who was born in nearby Hollywood, Fla. While Miami is coming off a four-year run with an offensive-minded head coach in Mike McDaniel, it has mostly zeroed in on defensive candidates in this search. Brady, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak and ex-Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski are exceptions, as PFR’s HC Search Tracker shows.
Campanile, 43, is the seventh defensive coordinator to receive an interview request from the Dolphins. After serving as an assistant in various roles at Rutgers, Boston College and Michigan from 2012-19, he got his start in the NFL as the Dolphins’ linebackers coach in 2020. Then-head coach Brian Flores brought in Campanile, who retained his position when McDaniel replaced Flores in 2022.
Campanile assisted McDaniel for two years before a one-season run as the Packers’ LBs coach and running game coordinator. Notably, new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was in Green Bay’s front office then.
Now coming off his first year as a coordinator, Campanile played a key role in helping the Jaguars and rookie head coach Liam Coen to a 13-4 record. While the Jaguars’ defense was among the NFL’s worst in 2024, it turned around its fortunes under Campanile. The unit ranked second in takeaways, eighth in scoring and 11th in yards in 2025. Campanile hasn’t received any other interview requests, but he’ll at least have a chance to convince Sullivan and the Dolphins he’s the right person to take over for McDaniel.
Dolphins Arrange HC Meetings With Kevin Stefanski, Patrick Graham
9:09pm: Graham will interview in Miami on Jan. 19, per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
3:52pm: An interview between Kevin Stefanski and the Dolphins regarding their HC vacancy has been expected. One will indeed take place.
Miami will interview Stefanski today, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. The meeting will be in person, which comes as no surprise. As a coach who is currently not under contract with another team. Stefanski is free to speak with suitors at any time.
The two-time Coach of the Year was seen by many as the top candidate on the market when his Browns tenure ended last Monday. The Ravens have since fired John Harbaugh, though, and he now represents the No. 1 target for several teams. Recent reports have pointed to the Giants and Falcons as the frontrunners in Harbaugh’s case. The coaching market may not see much movement until the Super Bowl winner makes his decision.
Stefanski’s fate may be closely tied to Harbaugh’s. Both Atlanta and New York are perceived to have Stefanski classified as Plan B in the event they are unable to land Harbaugh. Interest from other teams remains, of course, which leaves plenty of unanswered questions at this point in the hiring cycle. The Dolphins are among the teams which have been in contact with Harbaugh,
New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan is now on the interview committee that also includes Stephen Ross, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, president Tom Garfinkel, senior VP of football administration Brandon Shore and Ross son-in-law Daniel Sillman, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets. Aikman was onboard for the GM search, but the Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-announcing mainstay is helping the team find a head coach as well.
Stefanski has also interviewed with the Ravens, Raiders and Titans, making Miami his sixth meeting. The ex-Browns HC seems likely, even with Harbaugh and now Mike Tomlin unemployed, to land a second-chance job this offseason. Stefanski piloted a moribund Browns franchise to its second and third playoff berths since respawning back in 1999, taking Cleveland to the postseason in 2020 and ’23. The latter qualification was particularly impressive considering the Deshaun Watson albatross contract was on the books then; Stefanski earned his second Coach of the Year honor for reaching the playoffs behind in-season free agent signing Joe Flacco. The Browns winning just eight games over the past two seasons doomed the acclaimed leader, however.
In addition to the Stefanski meeting, the Dolphins have requested to interview Raiders DC Patrick Graham. The four-year Las Vegas staffer received an interview slip, per Pelissero. This would give Graham a chance at a Miami return. Graham spent the 2019 season as the Dolphins’ DC, serving in that capacity in Brian Flores‘ first HC season. Graham called Dolphins defensive plays in 2019, but the team allowed him to leave and become the Giants’ DC in 2020.
Graham managed to retain his Raiders DC role under three HCs, being retained by Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll. The Commanders are also hoping to meet with Graham about their DC gig.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Falcons, Giants, Titans Believed To Be Early John Harbaugh Leaders; Latest On Browns, Dolphins’ Pursuits
JANUARY 13: It appears the Titans should not be dropped to the second tier of the Harbaugh sweepstakes. Tennessee is believed to join Atlanta and New York as a frontrunner here at this point in the process, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. The Titans are conducting a thorough search, but Harbaugh’s name has shot toward the top of the list as Borgonzi prepares to make his first HC hire.
JANUARY 12: John Harbaugh interviews are expected to begin this week. The Giants look to be pushing the hardest among this lot of suitors, and the sides are on track to huddle up soon. But other teams are still in this race.
As of Monday, it is believed the Falcons join the Giants as the early leaders for the 18-year veteran HC, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. This is a sentiment shared around the coaching market, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, who indicates the current expectation points to Harbaugh ending up in Atlanta or New York.
[RELATED: Chris Mara, Harbaugh Complete Informal Meeting]
The Dolphins and Titans, however, are still believed to be in the race, SI.com’s Albert Breer offers. Miami and Tennessee are still likely to have a “real shot” to pitch their jobs to the coveted candidate. Harbaugh is believed to have spent the weekend making preparations to assemble a coaching staff, Breer adds.
We heard over the weekend the Dolphins’ decision to hire Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM may steer them away from Harbaugh, and the Miami opening may not be especially desirable among top HC candidates.
The Titans are coming off a second consecutive 3-14 season, but they do have Cam Ward in place and the NFL’s second-most cap space. Though, the AFC South did show significant improvement this season — after being mostly dormant for many years. The Titans should be viewed as the third-place team for Harbaugh right now, Jones adds, but Ward and the lofty cap-space figure have presented some intrigue for Harbaugh, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. High draft choices and the Titans moving toward a new stadium are also factors here, Garafolo adds, noting GM Mike Borgonzi‘s presence is viewed as a plus early.
The NFC South, however, has been the NFL’s worst division on the whole this decade. The Falcons were part of a three-way tie for first place at 8-9. They were believed to join the Giants in closely monitoring the Harbaugh situation before the Ravens fired him. Atlanta also does not look to be a rebuilding team, having some quality pieces at the skill positions, up front and, as of 2025, in the pass-rushing department. The divisional outlook also does not look particularly strong moving forward, creating an interesting opportunity.
Harbaugh is believed to want some roster say, according to Jones, but he is not aiming for full control. A high salary will be required, as should be expected with a candidate carrying Harbaugh’s credentials and suitor list, but Jones adds a $20MM-per-year number is not a requirement. That is viewed as at or near the top of the coaching market, where ex-Harbaugh mentor Andy Reid resides.
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is believed to be the strongest Harbaugh proponent within the NFC East organization, according to Hughes, but team brass is fairly in agreement this should be the way to play it. The Giants have not succeeded, for the most part, with first-timers since Tom Coughlin‘s ouster. Pat Shurmur had experience, a two-year Browns run, but was not in the same league as Harbaugh. A Harbaugh hiring would remind of the 2004 Coughlin pickup, though the latter was not nearly as experienced as Harbaugh when he landed the New York job.
In addition to Harbaugh being intrigued by Jaxson Dart, the coaching free agent is believed to value the Giants’ history. A storied franchise in the pre-Super Bowl era and one that has four Super Bowl titles, the Giants have fallen on hard times over the past decade and change. Even though New York won Super Bowl XLVI, it has not booked back-to-back playoff berths since the 2007-08 seasons. Harbaugh, 63, would have a chance to restore the Giants as a contending operation. That could appeal to a coach whose Baltimore tenure had run its course.
While the Browns are aiming to interview Harbaugh, Breer leaves them off the upper echelon of pursuers here. Though, Jones confirms a recent report that indicates mutual interest does exist. It will be tough for the Browns to lure Harbaugh or a comparable candidate, given ownership’s rocky history and Deshaun Watson‘s contract still on the books. The Browns, who will almost definitely roster Watson in 2026 and be on the hook for his megadeal in 2027 thanks to void years-driven dead money, also do not have a great path to a quarterback in this year’s draft due to holding the No. 6 overall pick.
Jesse Minter Receives HC Interview Request From Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Giants
In the early stages of the head coaching hiring cycle, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was confirmed as one of the top candidates on the market. Interest in his case now runs the gamut of HC-needy teams.
Minter has received an interview request from the Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins and Giants, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. He had already received a slip from each of the other four teams currently seeking a head coach. As such, Minter is officially a candidate for every current opening in the NFL.
An interview will take place with Arizona today, per Breer. Minter will be busy on that front over the coming days, especially if he accepts all eight requests. With the Chargers’ season now over, his attention will turn to the possibility of a first career head coaching opportunity being offered in the near future.
The Cardinals have already met with several former NFL head coaches in their search for Jonathan Gannon‘s replacement. Arizona has also been connected to less experienced staffers like Klint Kubiak and Chris Shula, however. This Minter news thus comes as little surprise.
Atlanta’s first major piece of business was taken care of recently with Matt Ryan being hired as the team’s president of football operations. Attention will now turn to the Falcons’ head coach and general manager vacancies. It remains to be seen which of those will be filled first, but in recent years many NFL teams have brought in both members of a new HC-GM combination in quick succession.
Mike McDaniel appeared to be safe early last week, but his tenure in Miami ultimately came to an end. That has left the Dolphins as one of the teams in need of a new head coach, although their vacancy is not considered to be among the more attractive ones on the market. Adding Minter would give Miami a defense-oriented head coach for the first time since McDaniel’s predecessor, Brian Flores, was in place.
Like the Falcons, the Giants are seen as a frontrunner to land John Harbaugh. Other, more established coaches would represent a logical fallback option in the event the longtime Ravens HC heads elsewhere. Still, Minter’s inclusion on the list of targets for New York helps illustrate how widespread the interest is in his case.
After winning a national championship at Michigan in 2023, Minter followed Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers. The Bolts have gone one-and-done in the playoffs both years with those two in place, but strong defensive play has largely been prevalent over that span. Minter, 42, remains one of the most sought-after candidates with a defensive background in particular. His interview schedule over the coming days will be worth following closely.
Dolphins Request HC Interview With Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard
For the second-straight season, a Lions defensive coordinator could be on the move. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins have requested permission to interview Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard for their head coaching vacancy.
[RELATED: Dan Campbell Endorses Kelvin Sheppard]
Sheppard doesn’t come with as much fanfare nor experience as Aaron Glenn did last offseason. The former third-round pick joined Detroit’s coaching staff as an OLBs coach in 2021, and he shifted to linebackers coach in 2022. He held that role for three seasons before earning the promotion to defensive coordinator ahead of the 2025 campaign.
Detroit’s defense took a step back with Sheppard at the helm, as the team’s points-per-game mark jumped from 20.1 in 2024 to 24.3 in 2025. This led some to speculate that the 38-year-old may not even retain his current role in 2026. However, coach Dan Campbell was quick to endorse his coordinator, noting that Sheppard has grown into the job throughout the year.
Further, Sheppard has a bit of an excuse thanks to the number of injuries on Detroit’s defense. Star safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph plus cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Ennis Rakestraw all spent time on injured reserve, with several of those players unavailable for the stretch run of the season. While injuries are only part of the reason for the Lions’ defensive regression, they seemingly also helped Sheppard maintain his reputation.
Now, he’ll have a chance to take the next step of his career in Miami. Sheppard actually had the most productive season of his playing career with the Dolphins in 2015, and he may be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s looking to return to their winning ways. The Dolphins currently have one of the shortest list of head coaching candidates in the league, although more names will surely be added over the next few days. The team’s current list of definitive and rumored targets includes:
- Anthony Campanile, defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Rumored candidate
- Jeff Hafley, defensive coordinator (Packers): Interview requested
- John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Contacted
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/10
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Cowboys): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Rumored candidate
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Rumored candidate
Kevin Stefanski Seen As Second HC Choice For Giants, Falcons; Dolphins Interview Expected
A long list of John Harbaugh suitors exists with eight head coaching openings around the NFL. It would come as little surprise if the Super Bowl winner were to be the first domino to fall in this year’s hiring cycle. 
The Giants and Falcons are seen as the frontrunners for Harbaugh, though other suitors are in play as well. Earlier today, it was learned his first interview was completed with Atlanta. Both teams have Harbaugh atop their wishlists, but they also seem to share a backup plan.
Kevin Stefanski is seen among coaching candidates as Plan B for the Giants and Falcons, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. Whichever team is unable to hire Harbaugh is expected to turn its attention to Stefanski as a result. Of course, there are other potential landing spots in Stefanski’s case as well.
The former Browns HC was viewed by many as the top candidate on the market prior to Harbaugh’s dismissal. Stefanski would still represent an accomplished hire regardless of how the coaching landscape shakes out over the coming weeks. A two-time Coach of the Year winner, he would offer experience and a potential play-caller to any new team.
The Giants moved on from Brian Daboll midway through the 2025 season. General manager Joe Schoen is still in place, but finding early success with the team’s next head coaching hire will no doubt be critical with respect to his job security. Stefanski, 43, has already interviewed with the Giants and has recently been named as a candidate to watch closely regarding their opening.
Having moved on from Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot, the Falcons are the only team in the NFL with a vacancy at the head coach and general manager positions. Atlanta has brought in Matt Ryan as president of football operations, and with that hire having taken place the team will proceed on the other two fronts. The Falcons’ interest in Harbaugh speaks to their desire for a veteran staffer, so Stefanski represents a logical fallback option.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are among the teams which have also been connected to Stefanski.No meeting has taken place between team and coach yet, but Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports one is expected in this case. As a coach who is not under contract, Stefanski is free to interview with suitors and accept a position at any time.
Dolphins Contact John Harbaugh; Troy Aikman Assisting In HC Search
JANUARY 12: The Dolphins are not seen as a frontrunner for Harbaugh at this time, although Jackson reports further contact between the parties will take place. Whether or not Miami winds up as a finalist remains to be seen, but the team is among Harbaugh’s many suitors as things stands.
JANUARY 10: The Dolphins considered a trade for then-Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in 2019. No deal came together, though, and Harbaugh remained in Baltimore for the long haul. Seven years later, the Dolphins are in the market for a head coach again. With Harbaugh a free agent after the Ravens fired him this week, he’s back on Miami’s radar. The Dolphins contacted Harbaugh and informed him of their interest, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Dolphins became the seventh team to reach out to Harbaugh since he lost his job on Tuesday, Albert Breer of SI.com reports. That means every club without a head coach (excluding Baltimore, of course) has contacted Harbaugh. The Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Raiders, Giants and Titans are also in the market.
The Giants, Dolphins, Titans and Falcons look like the most realistic fits for Harbaugh, Breer observes, but interest in the 63-year-old extends beyond clubs with head coach openings. Harbaugh has heard from “at least nine other teams,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.
Playoff participants such as Buffalo and Green Bay have come up as potential landing spots for Harbaugh. The Packers, however, seem likely to work out a contract extension with Matt LaFleur. That would rule out Harbaugh joining the Pack.
Harbaugh, who will begin interviewing next week, hasn’t booked anything with the Dolphins yet, Jackson reports. Considering the Harbaugh family has a “longtime relationship” with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him wind up as a front-runner for the position. However, a lack of clarity at quarterback could hurt the Dolphins’ cause.
Harbaugh enjoyed remarkable stability under center throughout his 18-year tenure in Baltimore, first with Joe Flacco and then Lamar Jackson. Thanks in large part to an incredible playoff run from Flacco, the Ravens capped off the 2012 season with a Super Bowl victory. The Ravens haven’t won a championship since then, but Jackson has been an elite QB who has twice earned MVP honors since his first full season in 2019.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan will have to figure out how to proceed with Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa is open to a fresh start, he’s owed a guaranteed $54MM in 2026. Releasing Tagovailoa would cost the Dolphins a record $99.2 in dead money, though designating him a post-June 1 cut would enable to spread that total over two seasons. Still, it would be a less-than-ideal situation for Harbaugh or anyone else who may replace the ousted Mike McDaniel as the Dolphins’ next sideline leader.
Miami’s head coach hiring will come with input from Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who will stay on in an advisory role, Jackson relays. The Dolphins first brought the “Monday Night Football” broadcaster in to assist in a GM search that ended with Sullivan’s hiring. The team appreciated Aikman’s “diligence and effort” during the process, per Jackson. The former Cowboy will now have some say over the HC position, though Sullivan and Ross will lead the way.
In the event the Dolphins don’t hire Harbaugh, Jackson identifies Packers coordinators Jeff Hafley (defense) and Adam Stenavich (offense), former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, ex-Packers and Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy and Jaguars D-coordinator Anthony Campanile as names to watch. Sullivan, who spent over two decades in Green Bay, has worked with Hafley, Stenavich and McCarthy. Campanile was Miami’s linebackers coach from 2020-23.
Ravens Request HC Interview With Jesse Minter
The list of Ravens targets for their head coaching vacancy continues to grow. One of the staffers most closely connected to Baltimore has now received a slip.
Baltimore has requested an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. On Saturday, colleague Mike Garafolo named the Ravens as a team expected to submit a request (video link). As such, today’s update comes as no surprise.
In the wake of John Harbaugh‘s firing, many quickly pointed to Minter as a logical replacement candidate. The latter spent the first four years of his NFL coaching career in Baltimore, serving as a defensive assistant and later the team’s defensive backs coach. Minter had previous DC experience at the college level at that time, and he added further to his NCAA track record following his Ravens stint by leading Vanderbilt and Michigan’s defense.
Minter and Jim Harbaugh won a national championship together in 2023. Afterwards, they each came to the Chargers and helped lead the team to consecutive playoff appearances. Los Angeles has now gone one-and-done twice during that span, but the team’s defense has largely remained its strength since the start of the 2024 campaign. Minter’s unit led the league in scoring defense last season before ranking in the top nine in both yards and points allowed in 2025.
Minter’s strong showings at the college and NFL levels has helped his coaching stock, and he spent much of the past season known to be a top HC candidate for the 2026 hiring cycle. Based on his familiarity with both Harbaugh brothers, though, the 42-year-old has been specifically linked to Baltimore’s vacancy. Interest from other teams already exists, but a return to the Ravens in Minter’s case would represent a strong fit on multiple levels.
Rapoport adds that Baltimore’s previously arranged interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver (another ex-Ravens staffer) will take place today. The team will also spend Monday interviewing former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Here is an updated look at Baltimore’s ongoing search:
- Joe Brady, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, defensive coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Vance Joseph, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8
- Kliff Kingsbury, former offensive coordinator (Commanders): To interview 1/12
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/9
- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed 1/11
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview requested
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Chris Shula, defensive coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
- Kevin Stefanski, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/9
- Anthony Weaver, defensive coordinator (Dolphins): To interview 1/12
- Davis Webb, quarterbacks coach (Broncos): Interviewed 1/8