Story by
After Michigan football goodbye, Jesse Minter hired by Chargers as defensive coordinator
- Story by
- After Michigan football goodbye, Jesse Minter hired by Chargers as defensive coordinator
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Jesse Minter is following Jim Harbaugh from Michigan football to the Los Angeles Chargers .
Minter was announced as the Chargers' defensive coordinator on Tuesday night. He is the second member of Harbaugh's Michigan staff to be announced as taking a job with Los Angeles . Ben Herbert was announced as the strength and conditioning coach last Thursday. Defensive line coach Mike Elston is also headed to the Chargers, the Free Press confirmed Tuesday .
Advertisement
Minter directed the Wolverines' defense the last two seasons. They were the top-ranked unit in the country last season, allowing 247 yards per game as Michigan went 15-0 and won its first national championship since 1997.
Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter speaks during national championship game media day at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024.
RAINER SABIN: Jim Harbaugh spent 9 years as Michigan football's power source. Now he's electrifying LA
This will be Minter's second stint in the NFL. He spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2017-20) under Harbaugh's brother, John, the first three as a defensive assistant and the last as defensive backs coach.
Minter left Baltimore in 2021 to become the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Vanderbilt. He has also coached at Cincinnati, Indiana State and Georgia State.
Advertisement
Minter will be tasked with turning around a defense that has struggled despite having safety Derwin James and linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack . The Bolts were 28th in the league in total defense and 30th against the pass. It is the first time since 1986 they have been ranked 20th or lower in total defense for three straight seasons.
New Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who held his introductory news conference on Tuesday, said there are players on the roster who should fit easily into the team's new defensive scheme.
With Minter having learned under Don "Wink" Martindale during his time in Baltimore, Hortiz is aware of what Minter will need.
"The way that the Chargers' roster is built is similar to the Ravens' defense, in terms of the edges, the three down linemen and the two inside linebackers," Hortiz said. "It's not going to be a big shift, in terms of how we're going to build this team out. I think the big thing is mentality. Let's go. Let's attack."
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jesse Minter hired by LA Chargers as defensive coordinator
