The Cleveland Browns are on the lookout for a new head coach following the dismissal of Kevin Stefanski. If they don't secure John Harbaugh, there's a good chance they might consider one of his former assistants instead. On January 9, 2026, it was reported that the Browns have reached out to Jesse Minter, the 42-year-old defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, to discuss their coaching vacancy, according to sources from cleveland.com.
Minter's interview request marks the fourth candidate the Browns have approached as they seek a replacement for Stefanski, who was let go earlier this week. He is also noted as the sixth individual to be considered overall, joining two internal candidates: defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, both of whom were interviewed in person on Thursday.
In addition to Minter, the Browns have expressed interest in interviewing several other coaches. The list includes Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, and Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. Interviews with Durde and Pitcher were conducted virtually on Friday, which is a requirement for current NFL employees until January 19, following the divisional round of playoffs.
Looking ahead, the Browns may also reach out to additional candidates, possibly including Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
Jesse Minter has built a solid reputation in coaching, particularly during his time under Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, starting back in 2022 at Michigan. He transitioned from college football to the NFL in 2017 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he served for four seasons under John Harbaugh, Jim's brother. Minter initially began as a defensive assistant and worked his way up to become the defensive backs coach in 2020. Throughout his tenure in Baltimore, he played a significant role in developing a secondary that featured multiple Pro Bowl talents and consistently excelled in pass defense and turnovers.
Moreover, Minter gained experience working alongside Mike Macdonald, who is now the head coach of the 14-3 Seahawks, the top seed in the NFC.
Known for his ability to transform average defenses into elite units, Minter often refers to his years with the Ravens as invaluable learning experiences in defensive strategy and culture. He employs a 3-4 defensive scheme, contrasting with Schwartz’s base 4-3 setup. However, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry, who is leading the search, mentioned that many players in the Browns' highly-ranked defense (fourth in the league for yards allowed) are adaptable to different schemes.
Being the son of former Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Rick Minter, who now serves as a defensive analyst for the Chargers, Jesse Minter began his coaching career as an intern at Notre Dame in 2006. He further developed his skills at Cincinnati and Indiana State, with his first major success coming as the defensive coordinator at Georgia State from 2013 to 2016. His leadership there garnered him a nomination for the prestigious Broyles Award, recognizing him as one of the top assistant coaches in the country after significantly improving the team's defense.
After a brief tenure as Vanderbilt's defensive coordinator in 2021, Minter achieved great heights at Michigan, playing a crucial role in the Wolverines' recent triumph over Ohio State and their journey to winning the national championship in 2024. At Michigan, he directed a defense that set the standard in college football, ranking first nationwide in total defense in 2023, allowing just 247 yards per game, which underpinned their remarkable 15-0 season.
His defensive philosophy, known as the "Pillars," focuses heavily on disrupting plays and creating turnovers, earning him recognition as a finalist for the Broyles Award.
In 2024, Minter returned to the NFL under Harbaugh’s guidance, taking on the role of defensive coordinator for the Chargers. This season, his defensive unit ranked among the top five in scoring while also placing in the top ten for total yardage allowed. His string of successes has made him a highly sought-after candidate, with multiple NFL teams showing interest in interviewing him for head coaching positions.
Mary Kay Cabot, a seasoned journalist with over three decades of experience covering the Cleveland Browns for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com, emphasizes the significance of this coaching search in the broader context of the league.
