Los Angeles Chargers Jesse Minter has seen his stock fall dramatically but could still turn things around by making key changes

After an impressive first year in the NFL, Jesse Minter’s name started circulating in head coaching conversations. His transition from college football to the pros seemed seamless in 2024, and his early success with the Los Angeles Chargers made him one of the rising defensive minds to watch entering the 2025 coaching cycle.

But through seven games this season, that buzz has faded fast. Sunday’s ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts was the latest in a string of defensive breakdowns that have raised serious concerns about whether Minter, or the Chargers’ defense, is ready for primetime.

The game felt uncomfortably familiar to fans who endured the Brandon Staley era. The Colts, led by former Chargers offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, had their way from start to finish. Missed tackles, busted coverages, and poor gap discipline plagued the defense all night. It wasn’t just a bad showing but a complete collapse that questioned everything that had gone right early in the year.

From a hot start to a cold reality

Minter’s defense looked sharp in the opening weeks of the season. The unit played fast, limited explosive plays, and created turnovers at a rate that echoed last year’s success. But over the past few weeks, that momentum has vanished. Opponents have shredded the Chargers on the ground and through the air, and it’s becoming harder to point to just one reason why.

Key injuries certainly haven’t helped. Khalil Mack’s absence has taken away the team’s best edge presence, and other injuries across the front seven have thinned the rotation. However, while the lack of depth is part of the story, it doesn’t explain the mental lapses and poor execution that have repeatedly shown up. Players are missing tackles in space, overpursuing on run fits, and blowing assignments in coverage—the kinds of mistakes that come down to focus and preparation more than talent.

Defensive regression raising red flags

This isn’t the first time the Chargers have looked overmatched against a capable offense. The defense has struggled against elite quarterbacks—Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and C.J. Stroud all picked apart Minter’s system last season. When the Chargers faced backup-level or struggling quarterbacks, the numbers looked much better, creating a false sense of progress heading into 2025.