While Minter aims to mesh with the Ravens’ star quarterback, his defensive knowledge is the biggest reason he’s in Baltimore.
The Chargers allowed 20.0 points per game (ninth in the NFL) and 285.2 total yards per game (fifth) under Minter in 2025, a follow-up to his first season as an NFL DC in which his unit finished with the top total scoring defense. Before that, Minter was Jim Harbaugh’s DC at the University of Michigan, a two-season stint that culminated in the College Football Playoff.
Minter’s work in LA made him highly sought after during the 2026 recruiting process, interviewing in Atlanta, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Miami, Pittsburgh and Tennessee, as well as Baltimore.
He said he plans to continue calling the game defensively and feels he’s up to the task as a rookie head coach.
“I think that’s my strength,” Minter said of calling plays. “I think that’s one of the reasons I’m sitting here, but I also think it’s my leadership qualities. I have a very good process, I think, to do what I need to do to be ready to call the game but also have the ability to be a head coach and influence the whole group.”
The Ravens are coming off a tumultuous season where injuries played a big role in all areas and the defense did not live up to its usual high standards. Like the offense, Baltimore’s defense remains loaded with talent, with linebacker Roquan Smith leading the defense and safety Kyle Hamilton a unique playmaker lurking all over the field.
Minter, who handled a similar type of Pro Bowl safety in Derwin James with the Chargers, beamed with excitement when asked about Hamilton’s coaching.
“Kyle is a weapon; he’s a positional defensive player that I would classify as a weapon on defense,” Minter said. “As much as you can do to get a guy like Kyle close to the point of attack, I think that’s what you try to do as a designer, an actor. Couldn’t be more excited to be able to work with Kyle.”