The Pittsburgh Steelers have requested an interview with Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator and former Baltimore Ravens assistant Jesse Minter for their head coaching job, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network .
Minter is the fifth reported candidate the Steelers have reached out to interview — joining Los Angeles Rams passing coordinator Nate Scheelhaase , Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula , Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores .
Minter is a rising candidate in this year's coaching carousel. The Chargers defense significantly improved in the 2025 season under Minter, ranking seventh in total yards allowed and near the top in key metrics like passing touchdowns allowed (5th) and EPA per play (7th).
The Steelers have plucked three relatively unknown defensive coordinators and watched them grow into the best head coaches in the franchise's history. After longtime leader Mike Tomlin resigned on Tuesday, Steelers president Art Rooney II isn't pigeonholing his head coaching search to fit the same criteria.
"For now, I don't wanna sort of put any real parameters around it," Rooney said during a press conference on Wednesday. "We're gonna be an open book in terms of who we look for and the list that we build. Can I sign up for another Chuck Noll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure. Somebody that we feel fits that mold would be great, but, for now, we're not gonna narrow the box too much."
Minter, 42, has a similarities to Cowher. Cowher was an up-and-coming young coach with the Cleveland Browns , was a part of some Cleveland teams than tortured the Steelers, and then left to take a promotion with the Kansas City Chiefs before the Steelers hired him.
Minter was an assistant coach with the Ravens from 2017-20 before going to the college ranks to become defensive coordinator at Michigan. He followed Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers last year and is already considered to be one of the top coaching candidates for the Ravens job.
Minter's dad, Rick Minter, has ties to Tomlin. Minter was the head coach at Cincinnati when Tomlin was the defensive backs coach from 1999-2000.
Alan Saunders contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Request HC Interview with Former Ravens Assistant
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