Ravens' New Head Coach Minter to Call Defensive Plays

Minter says he'll handle both head coach and play-caller responsibilities

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:23pm

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Jesse Minter, the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, confirmed that he will be calling the defensive plays for the team. Minter, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, said he believes this is one of his strengths and a key reason he was hired as the Ravens' new head coach.

Why it matters

Many NFL head coaches choose to delegate play-calling duties, so Minter taking on both the head coach and defensive play-caller roles is somewhat unusual. This decision reflects Minter's confidence in his abilities and his desire to have a direct impact on the team's defensive performance.

The details

In his two seasons as the Chargers' defensive coordinator, the team ranked highly in several key defensive metrics. Minter said he has a strong process for handling both the head coaching and play-calling responsibilities, and he wants to ensure there is no divide between the offense, defense and special teams.

  • Minter was hired as the new Ravens head coach in January 2026.

The players

Jesse Minter

The new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who also calls the defensive plays for his team.

DeMeco Ryans

The head coach of the Houston Texans, who also calls the defensive plays for his team.

Todd Bowles

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also calls the defensive plays for his team.

Dan Quinn

The head coach of the Washington Commanders, who also calls the defensive plays for his team.

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What they’re saying

“I do plan on calling the defense. I think that's a strength of mine. I think that's one of the reasons I'm sitting here.”

— Jesse Minter, Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens

“I have a really good process, I feel, to do what I need to do to be ready to call the game, but also have the ability to be the head coach and to impact the entire roster, the entire team.”

— Jesse Minter, Head Coach, Baltimore Ravens

What’s next

Minter will continue finalizing his coaching staff, including the offensive and special teams coordinators, as the Ravens prepare for the upcoming NFL season.

The takeaway

Minter's decision to call the defensive plays as the Ravens' new head coach reflects his confidence in his abilities and his desire to have a direct impact on the team's defensive performance. This approach is somewhat unusual, as many NFL head coaches choose to delegate play-calling duties, but it demonstrates Minter's belief that he can handle both the head coaching and play-calling responsibilities effectively.