The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2025 campaign was a mess, to say the least. The team’s decision to hire Pete Carroll as its head coach backfired in spectacular fashion, which means the Raiders are once again looking for a new leader from the sidelines this offseason. With their search coming to a conclusion, frontrunners have begun to emerge.
Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas has cast a wide net with its latest search, and while rumors seem to suggest it is looking for an offensive-minded coach, it is also talking to defense-oriented options, too. Case in point, the Raiders shared a big announcement involving Los Angeles Chargers‘ defensive coordinator Jesse Minter on Tuesday afternoon.
Raiders Complete Second Head Coach Interview with Jesse Minter
While the Raiders are coming off a disappointing season, it’s not as if all is lost for them. They have several talented players, such as Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers, headlining their roster already, and with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the overarching expectation is that they will select star Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Las Vegas is obviously rebuilding, but it seems like the candidate the team hires will be given time to right the ship and turn it into a contender. Among the guys who have spoken with the team about the job is Minter, who has helped transform the Chargers’ defense into one of the top units in the league after following Jim Harbaugh from the Michigan Wolverines to the NFL in 2024.
Minter has quickly turned himself into one of the top head coach candidates this cycle, and while he is a defensive-minded candidate, that hasn’t stopped the Raiders from pursuing him. With Las Vegas beginning its second round of interviews, Minter ended up being the first person it spoke to as the next phase of its hiring process gets underway.
“Raiders now have completed a second interview with Chargers DC Jesse Minter for their head coach opening,” Adam Schefter of ESPN shared in a post on X.
Should the Raiders Hire Jesse Minter?
GettyLos Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter
Given the Raiders’ desire to hire an offensive-minded coach, it is a bit interesting to see them continuing to pursue Minter as their head coach search unfolds. Granted, the defense needs just as much help, if not more help, as the offensive side of the ball, but it would seem like Minter isn’t the team’s top candidate given his background as a coach. The fact that the team didn’t make a move to hire him on Tuesday would also indicate as much.
Minter is a rising coach, but at this stage of the game, he’s likely a backup plan for Las Vegas, rather than its top option. That could change quickly, but it will be worth keeping a close eye on who else the Raiders bring in for a second interview. Minter would not be a bad hire by any stretch of the imagination, but there are other candidates that are still available who are better fits for the team right now.
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