Jesse Minter. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter must rebuild once-proud defense

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Jan 22, 2026 6:23 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens have their new head coach, and it is former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. He has big shoes to fill in replacing longtime head coach — and Super Bowl champion — John Harbaugh, while also facing big expectations in trying to get Lamar Jackson to the Super Bowl.

If he is going to meet those expectations, there is one thing he is going to have to do — return dominance and greatness to the Ravens' once-proud defense.

Rebuilding Ravens defense has to be Jesse Minter's biggest priority

While the play of Jackson and the Ravens offense is going to be important, there is already an identity and an expectation that side of the ball is going to perform. Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, still in the prime of his career and has a dominant running back in Derrick Henry to form a two-headed monster in the backfield that can take over games.

Improving the wide receiver depth chart is also going to be important, but the offense — as long as Jackson is healthy — should be in good hands.

The defense is another story. It needs help. A lot of it.

Your next coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

We have agreed to terms with Jesse Minter to be our head coach! pic.twitter.com/5VEBGk8iB1
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 22, 2026

The Ravens never really recovered from the departure of former defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald when he took the Seattle Seahawks job prior to the 2024 season, and over the past two years, that unit has dramatically regressed. Especially when it comes to its ability to stop the pass and get after the quarterback.

In 2024,, the Ravens ranked 31st in the NFL against the pass, allowing 244.1 yards per game and 7.1 yards per pass attempt (21st in the NFL). They were still able to get after the quarterback (second in sacks) which masked some other shortcomings, but it was not enough to get the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

Things got even worse in 2025.

Not only did the Ravens remain near the bottom of the NFL in stopping the pass (247.9 yards per game, again 31st in the NFL), but they also stopped getting to the quarterback. They registered just 30 sacks (30th in the NFL), recorded only 11 interceptions and allowed 23.4 points per game. It was not good enough. It is not the standard the Ravens have set for themselves as a team.

While Jackson's injury issues throughout the season played a role in the Ravens' 8-9 record, the fact they allowed 30 points in five games and could not stop a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers with their season on the line in Week 18 is what ultimately held them back.

Minter's top focus has to be not allowing any of that to happen again. The Ravens will score points as long as Jackson is healthy. They just need to do a better job stopping other teams from doing the same.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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