The Baltimore Ravens‘ hiring of Jesse Minter impressed a prominent member of the national media. ESPN’s Mina Kimes, speaking on “The Ryan Ripken Show”, praised Baltimore for bringing Minter in to replace John Harbaugh.
“He is really responsible for the Chargers‘ turnaround. He called the plays. And he got the most out of veterans there. Derwin James, who is his Kyle Hamilton. But, I was a big fan of that hire. I wanted the Ravens to go defense, to be honest, for a litany of reasons.”
“Everyone focused on Week 18 because of the kick, but I was thinking alot about the defense and how much they struggled after Kyle Hamilton went down. Bringing in a defensive coach and restoring that mentality is going to be important. Lamar Jackson is kind of an offense onto himself, so that was less important.”
“I was a big fan of that hire. You know I wanted the Ravens to go defense to be honest… I think bringing in a defensive coach to kind of restore that mentality is going to be important” @minakimes on why she likes Jesse Minter in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/XmzdPz7aRZ
— Ryan Ripken (@ryanripkenshow) February 3, 2026
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In 2025, the defense allowed more than 350 yards of total offense to opponents on 11 separate occasions. During the last three weeks of the season, when the Ravens needed to win two games, the defense allowed an average of 402 yards per game. In surrendering 25 points or more, the Ravens’ defense could not make stops. Nothing illustrated this point more than the Week 1 opening-night loss to the Buffalo Bills.
With 1:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, Lamar Jackson connected with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a 29-yard touchdown pass. After the extra point, the Ravens raised their lead to 34-19. Over the next 16 minutes and nine seconds, Buffalo scored 22 points, escaping with a 41-40 victory.
GettyBuffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater celebrates after he kicked a 32-yard field goal to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, 41-40 on September 7, 2025.
Minter Aims to Restore Defense-First Mentality in Baltimore
In winning two Super Bowls since 2000, the Ravens appeared to pride themselves on defense. For instance, they’ve ranked in the top 10 in fewer yards and fewer points, combined, 39 times. The organization embraced the concept of “Bully Ball,” a form of physical defense designed to assert dominance over an opponent. Minter’s defense is predicated on pressuring the quarterback from multiple angles, which also causes turnovers.
DISGUISE! Be EXOTIC! That’s all I hear lately. Change the QB picture! Teams must focus on WHY they do things—what’s the purpose?
GOOD NEWS for Ravens! Jesse Minter is about technique and fundamentals. With the Chargers, his defense was rarely confused and out of position.
— Adam Archuleta (@AdamArchuleta) January 29, 2026
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Two Key Contributors to Factor Into Plan
Kimes mentioned Hamilton as the Baltimore version of All-Pro safety Derwin James. Under Minter, James played more downhill, towards the line of scrimmage. As a result, his 16 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and 14 quarterback hits were his most for any two-year period in his career.
GettyBaltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton during a game on January 28, 2024.
Similarly, Roquan Smith, already a cornerstone of the Ravens defense, will be asked not only to maintain his level of play but also to add a bit more blitzing to cause confusion. With five sacks in four years, the previous defense saw Smith as someone to basically attack the run game and operate in the underneath on passing down. In Los Angeles, Smith’s counterpart, Daiyan Henley, tallied 3.5 sacks in just 32 blitzes.
Fanbase Sees Potential Super Bowl Parallel
On Sunday, February 8, the Seattle Seahawks, led by former Ravens assistant Mike Macdonald, will take the field against the New England Patriots. Between their friendship and similar approaches to defense, the Ravens fanbase has made bold predictions as to what’s ahead for the franchise. The team fired Harbaugh after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl.
As a result, the expectations from the first day could be high. Can Minter reinvigorate a defense that stood at the backbone of the franchise?
Ravens Get Clear Feedback on Jesse Minter Hire Before Super Bowl LX