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Jesse Minter

Browns Schedule HC Interview With Jesse Minter

By | at January 13, 2026 9:15 pm

JANUARY 13: Minter will interview with the Browns on Friday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.

JANUARY 9: Jesse Minter‘s list of suitors continues to grow. The Chargers’ defensive coordinator has received a head coaching interview request from the Browns, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Earlier today, Minter received a slip from the Titans. The 42-year-old has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Ravens. No known interview request has been made by Baltimore as of yet, but that could still change over the coming days in the case of that team and others in the market for a head coach.

Minter has defensive coordinator experience at the college and NFL levels. He has worked under Jim Harbaugh for each of the past four years. The pair won a national championship at Michigan in 2023 before joining the Chargers. Los Angeles has enjoyed a defensive turnaround under Minter, finishing first in the NFL in points allowed last year before ranking ninth in 2025.

The Chargers are set to play in the wild-card round for the second year in a row. As a result, Minter cannot be interviewed until next week. His initial set of meetings with interested teams will be virtual, and it must conclude before the end of the divisional round. By that point, the full list of suitors in this case will be known.

The Browns began their search for Kevin Stefanski‘s replacement by looking internally. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and DC Jim Schwartz have already interviewed for the head coaching position. Earlier today, the first pair of outside targets emerged. More will no doubt become linked to Cleveland over the coming days, but few candidates on the market will have as strong of a resume as Minter.

Via PFR’s HC Search Tracker, here is an updated look at where things stand for the Browns:

0 comments Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Chargers

Jesse Minter Receives HC Interview Request From Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Giants

By | at January 13, 2026 11:19 am

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.

0 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Los Angeles Chargers Miami Dolphins New York Giants

Raiders Request Jesse Minter HC Interview; Giants Interview Slip Expected

By | at January 12, 2026 1:22 pm

Jesse Minter did not receive any interview requests last year, but after the Chargers continued their defensive momentum this season, the two-year NFL DC is flooded with interview slips.

After the Browns, Ravens and Titans sent them in, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the Raiders want to meet with Minter as well. The Raiders had been a rumored Minter suitor. Tom Brady and GM John Spytek‘s Michigan pasts certainly make them a team to watch for the former Wolverines national championship-winning DC.

[RELATED: 2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

In addition to the Raiders, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo expects the Giants to submit Minter an interview slip. In a scenario we highlighted back in September, Minter repeating his 2024 defensive success would likely lead to widespread interest and possibly a Los Angeles departure. Though, Minter is among a handful of rising defensive coordinators on this year’s market.

Now that the Chargers have been eliminated, Minter is free to speak with teams about HC vacancies. The Raiders just went defense with their HC position a year ago, hiring Pete Carroll. But Minter would profile as a different type of defensive leader, with the age gap being perhaps the most notable component here.

Minter is 42, whereas Carroll set a record for oldest NFL HC this past season by coaching games at 74. The Raiders chased Ben Johnson last year in hopes he would become their long-term leader. A three-year Carroll contract followed. With Carroll a one-and-done, Minter is now among the names Las Vegas is considering.

The Giants look to have their sights squarely set on John Harbaugh, and recent reports tabbed them as one of the early favorites. Minter would profile as a different option, with Harbaugh 63, but his coaching development has come under the Harbaugh brothers — in Baltimore, Ann Arbor and Los Angeles. Minter would make for an interesting Giants option through this lens. The Giants have not hired a defense-based HC since Tom Coughlin in 2004.

2 comments Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers New York Giants

Ravens Request HC Interview With Jesse Minter

By | at January 12, 2026 8:50 am

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.

[RELATED: HC Search Tracker]

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:

0 comments Baltimore Ravens Miami Dolphins

Titans Submit HC Interview Requests For Jesse Minter, Chris Shula

By | at January 9, 2026 10:26 am

The Titans‘ list of interview targets regarding their head coaching vacancy has continued to grow. Two of the top defensive candidates in this year’s cycle have received a slip from Tennessee.

The team has issued an interview request with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter along with Rams DC Chris Shula, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In both cases, Tennessee loomed as one of the teams mentioned as a potential suitor during the early portion of the hiring cycle. Today’s update thus comes as little surprise.

Minter is currently preparing for the Chargers’ wild-card game against the Patriots. Likewise, the Rams will play the Panthers during the opening round of the playoffs. By rule, neither staffer is allowed to conduct an interview until next week. All first-round interviews (which will be virtual) must be completed before the start of the divisional round.

A defensive coordinator with various college programs, Minter’s first NFL opportunity came with the Ravens in 2017. After a four-year run in Baltimore, he returned to the college ranks. Minter, 42, spent a pair of years as Michigan’s defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, then jointly departed two years ago to join the Chargers. Los Angeles has posted a top-10 finish in points allowed during both of Minter’s seasons in his current role.

Shula has also spent the past two seasons handling an NFL coordinator role for the first time. Don Shula‘s grandson has been with the Rams dating back to Sean McVay‘s arrival in 2017, however. Shula has worked his way through the ranks on Los Angeles’ staff, serving as a position coach and defensive pass-game coordinator prior to taking on the DC gig. The 39-year-old is younger than most candidates in this year’s pool, but he is a name to watch as the next McVay assistant with a strong chance of landing a head coaching gig. Shula has also been linked to the Giants, but this represents his first interview request.

As the Titans continue to seek out their full-time Brian Callahan replacement, here is an updated look at their search:

3 comments Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Tennessee Titans

John Harbaugh Didn’t Lose Locker Room?

By | at January 7, 2026 11:13 pm

In an appearance today on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter pushed back on one of the narratives that gained traction in the wake of John Harbaugh‘s dismissal in Baltimore. As McAfee suggested the insiders had seen this coming, Schefter voiced his dissent to the notion Harbaugh had lost the locker room.

“I don’t think that information right there could be any…less true,” Schefter exclaimed. “The players were coming to his office, crying, hugging him, sending him ‘goodbyes,’ calling him one by one. If they felt that way, why are Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely and all these players coming in crying, hugging him, giving him these long, warm goodbyes. I’m not buying it.”

[RELATED: Assessing Lamar Jackson’s Role In Ravens’ Coaching Decision]

As the interview continued, McAfee appealed to one of his frequent guests, former NFL center A.Q. Shipley to back up what Schefter was claiming. Shipley, who played for Harbaugh and the Ravens back in 2013, the second season of his eight-year career, called Harbaugh his favorite coach, after which Schefter chimed in to say that “that would be consistent with the type of things” that he had heard from other players. Shipley pointed to instances in which Harbaugh had his players’ backs and spoke to the respect that those moments garnered within Shipley and his teammates.

As McAfee went on to question why the departure would occur, if that were the case, Schefter mused on the concept that, sometimes, it’s just time for a change. He pointed to the Broncos as a two-time example of this fact, first utilizing the example of Dan Reeves. Reeves coached Denver for the first 12 years of his coaching career, amassed a 110-73-1 record, made the playoffs six times, won the division five times, advanced to the AFC Championship four times, and advanced to three Super Bowls but lost all three. Then-owner Pat Bowlen opted to part ways with Reeves and promoted Wade Phillips. Though, two years later Bowlen circled back to Mike Shanahan, who would win back-to-back Super Bowls shortly after, the first championships in franchise history.

Later on, in Denver, John Fox stepped in as head coach, and in a short, four-year stint went 46-18, winning the AFC West every season but losing his only Super Bowl appearance in 2013. Once again, the Broncos decided to move on from success, and Gary Kubiak won them their third Super Bowl the next year. Harbaugh had so much success up front, winning nine playoff games in his first five years, but as the franchise concluded his 18th season seeing only four more playoff wins in the 13 years since their Super Bowl victory, it’s clear there was a similar feeling with owner Steve Bisciotti.

It’s not all gloom for Harbaugh, though, as Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports that nine suitors have already emerged for Harbaugh; there are only seven open jobs in the NFL right now, including Baltimore. That means three teams with head coaches in place already have kicked the tires to inquire about his possible interest. The Dolphins are one such team, per Vacchiano, though Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pushes back on that notion, “citing people on both sides.” And, though the other teams remain unnamed, Vacchiano also mentions “a big push” that could come from a team “playing this weekend in the wild-card playoff round.”

Harbaugh has most notably been made the No. 1 target for the Giants. They’ve made it no small secret that they are interested in hiring him, and according to Vacchiano, “they are high on Harbaugh’s list,” too. A source from the team claimed, “They have no reason to believe that Harbaugh is not seeking excessive power in the organization or that he feels he wouldn’t be able to work with (general manager Joe Schoen).” And, though Harbaugh has yet to set a meeting with the team, NFL insider Gary Myers backs Vacchiano’s report up, saying himself that Harbaugh “has genuine interest” in the job in New York. In fact, Harbaugh hasn’t made meetings yet with any teams, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 63-year-old free agent is not expected to take part in any interviews until next week.

In Baltimore, though, the Ravens have hit the ground running in search of only the fourth head coach in franchise history. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are both names that have come to the forefront early, but according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a name to watch out for as the hiring process picks up. Kubiak is the only one of the three not to have already worked in Baltimore or coached on the defensive side of the ball. Weaver was assistant head coach/defensive line coach for the Ravens not long ago, while Minter worked with the team’s defensive backs from 2017-20.

What’s interesting is that all three candidates have zero head coaching experience. That’s obviously not something that scares off the Ravens, though, considering Harbaugh’s 18 years for the team were his first in a head coaching role. What’s more important, it seems, is the potential that Weaver or Minter could be able to reestablish the defensive identity that made Baltimore such a feared opponent in Harbaugh’s early years, or the idea that an offensive-minded candidate like Kubiak may be just what Lamar Jackson needs to deliver the franchise’s third Super Bowl, one that Jackson promised the day they took him as the last pick in the first round.

22 comments Baltimore Ravens Miami Dolphins New York Giants

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Now, after an overtime divisional-round loss in Denver, Sean McDermott is out in Buffalo.

The 10 HC openings are tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most in one year. Here are the candidates connected to all those searches. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-1-26 (4:00pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

12 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

Titans’ HC Search Expected To Include Mike McCarthy, Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh

By | at January 2, 2026 5:05 pm

Just under three months after firing head coach Brian Callahan on Oct. 13, the Titans made another significant organizational change Friday. Owner Amy Adams Strunk announced a shift in responsibilities for president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi. Going forward, Borgonzi will assume full roster control. He’ll also lead the hunt for Callahan’s full-time successor.

The Titans’ Borgonzi-led coaching search will be “wide-ranging and deliberate,” according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and a few defensive coordinators – Jeff Hafley (Packers), Jesse Minter (Chargers), Robert Saleh (49ers) and Chris Shula (Rams) – are expected to interview with the Titans.

Most of the above names have already come up in connection to the Titans’ job since Callahan’s firing. Nagy’s inclusion on the list is especially unsurprising when considering his familiarity with Borgonzi.

As a former Chiefs executive, Borgonzi has several years’ experience working with Nagy. A late-December report identified Nagy as a “serious candidate” for the position. If the Titans hire Nagy, it would give the 47-year-old a second chance at an NFL head coaching gig. Nagy led the Bears to a 34-31 record and two playoff berths from 2018-21. He earned Coach of the Year honors in his first season in Chicago.

There isn’t a more established option in this bunch than McCarthy, who went 174-112-2 in 18 combined seasons between Green Bay and Dallas from 2006-24. McCarthy’s teams went to the playoffs 12 times in that span. His lone Super Bowl victory, which capped off the 2010 campaign, came with an in-his-prime Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay’s quarterback.

If the Titans prioritize experience, McCarthy could have a leg up on the competition. It could also tip the scales in his favor (or Nagy’s) if the Titans prefer an offensive-minded hire. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last spring’s draft, is the most important player in the organization. The onus will be on a new coaching staff to hasten Ward’s development entering his second season in 2026. That’s assuming the Titans don’t promote interim HC Mike McCoy. Considering they’ve gone 2-8 with McCoy at the helm, that seems unlikely to happen.

While Saleh is mostly known for his defensive acumen, he joins McCarthy and Nagy in bringing past head coaching experience to the table. Saleh didn’t mimic McCarthy or Nagy in guiding teams to the playoffs, however. Rather, the Jets went a horrid 20-36 under him in three-plus seasons.

The Jets fired Saleh five games into 2024, but the 46-year-old has revived his stock this season with a San Francisco team that will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it beats Seattle on Saturday. Saleh has overseen a respectable defense despite largely going without his two best players, injured pass rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. Meanwhile, the Jets haven’t shown any progress since firing Saleh. New York started 2-3 before canning him last year. The team has spiraled to a 6-22 mark without him.

Saleh, who finished 2024 as an offensive consultant in Green Bay, landed multiple head coaching interviews last offseason. He spoke with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders, who all passed on him for different candidates. A year later, it appears he’ll have a chance to convince the Titans he’s the right fit.

6 comments Green Bay Packers Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers Tennessee Titans

Pete Carroll Addresses Job Security; Raiders Interested In Jesse Minter?

By | at December 29, 2025 2:16 pm

The Raiders took a step toward securing the first overall pick by losing yesterday. Vegas now has a record of 2-14, though, and the team has lost 10 straight games.

The fate of head coach Pete Carrol therefore remains something to watch closely as ‘Black Monday’ approaches. The Super Bowl winner has been named a strong one-and-done candidate on multiple occasions, although he fully plans to remain with the Raiders beyond the final week of the season. Carroll spoke after Sunday’s loss and reiterated his stance that ownership still backs him.

“I do. From all the guys I’ve talked to, I do feel like I have their support,” the 74-year-old said (video link). “What does that mean? I don’t know, but our conversations have been really good.”

Such remarks are commonplace late in the season for coaches in danger of being dismissed. As Carroll is no doubt well aware, dialogue with ownership in no way guarantees stability from one year to the next. The Raiders in particular have cycled through a long list of HC and GM combinations in recent years, including the organization’s reshaping in 2025. Carroll was hired during Tom Brady‘s first offseason as an official minority owner, one in which John Spytek was brought in as general manager.

Things have certainly not gone according to plan this year. Carroll has already fired a pair of coordinators – including the highly-compensated Chip Kelly – with production on offense proving to be a major challenge. The Raiders also rank 25th in the NFL in scoring defense, an illustration of the extent to which widespread improvement will be required in 2026. Two HC vacancies currently exist around the league, and more will soon open; whether or not Vegas joins the list of suitors for a new coach will be interesting to monitor over the coming days.

In the event a change is made on the sidelines, several staffers with a defensive background are set to dominate the pool of replacement candidates. One of those is Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, whom Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated identifies as a “name to keep an eye on” with respect to Vegas. Minter developed a strong track record in the college ranks before following Jim Harbaugh from Michigan to the Bolts in 2024. Los Angeles has thrived defensively under Minter. The 42-year-old has not served as a head coach yet during his career, but that could soon change and the Raiders could find themselves amongst his suitors.

9 comments Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers

Matt Nagy Considered ‘Serious Candidate’ For Titans’ HC Job

By | at December 21, 2025 8:36 pm

Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is considered a “serious candidate” for the Titans head coaching job, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Ironically, Chiefs are playing in Tennessee on Sunday. The Titans cannot discuss their head coaching vacancy with Nagy, but he will get an up-close look at the roster he would inherit if he gets the job.

Nagy, 47, has been the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for the last three seasons. He has worked under Andy Reid for virtually all of his NFL coaching career, starting in Philadelphia in 2008. Nagy followed Reid to Kansas City in 2013 as the team’s quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2016. He took over play-calling at the end of the 2017 season and was hired by the Bears as their head coach in the subsequent offseason.

In his debut season in Chicago, Nagy led the Bears to a 12-4 record and a first-place finish in the NFC North. Those are still the team’s best results since 2006, though the 2025 Bears could reach 13 wins this season.

Nagy’s Bears regressed in his next three years with two seasons at 8-8, and a 6-11 finish in 2021 was enough to get him fired. He returned to Kansas City as a senior offensive assistant and took over as offensive coordinator after Eric Bieniemy‘s departure.

The Chiefs offense statistically got worse under Nagy. After six straight years with top-six finishes in both points score and total offense, they have not been able to reach the same heights in either category since. Instead, Kansas City’s runs to the Super Bowl in 2023 and 2024 were largely powered by their top-10 defense.

Nagy’s top priority in Tennessee would be developing No. 1 pick Cam Ward, but he does not have a strong history with young quarterbacks. Mitch Trubisky put up a career-best season under Nagy in 2018, but could not replicate those results in the next two seasons. Justin Fields looked lost as a rookie in Nagy’s final year in Chicago, and upon returning to Kansas City, he immediately got to work with a veteran Patrick Mahomes.

The Titans are also expected to reach out to several defensive coordinators, per Russini, including Lou Anarumo (Colts), Jeff Hafley (Packers), Anthony Campanile (Jaguars), Chris Shula (Rams), Matt Burke (Texans), and Jesse Minter (Chargers). However, hiring a defensive head coach with the intention to bring in a young offensive coordinator to work with Ward runs the risk of that OC being poached by another team as their head coach.

29 comments Kansas City Chiefs Tennessee Titans
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