Jim Harbaugh Makes First Huge Addition to Coaching Staff, Lands Star for Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator

The Los Angeles Chargers are still searching for the right offensive coordinator to pair with Jim Harbaugh, but one other crucial piece of the coaching staff has been settled. Who will coordinate the Chargers’ defense in 2024? We finally have our answer.

Per @SamWebb77 Michigan DC Jesse Minter, has informed players that he will joining Jim Harbaugh as the new defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers.

— Jake Hefner (@JakeTHefner) January 27, 2024

Everything you need to know about Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter

According to Michigan insider Sam Webb, former Wolverines defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is accepting the same position with the Los Angeles Chargers. Michigan players were informed of his decision on Friday.

Minter has been coaching in some capacity since 2006 when he started as a defensive intern for Notre Dame. Five years later, he earned his first defensive coordinator role with Indiana State. Two years later, he joined Georgia State in the same role.

Then, in 2017, Minter joined Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John, with the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive assistant. He’d later coach defensive backs for two seasons before becoming Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator in 2021.

In 2022, Minter joined Jim’s staff at Michigan, where he became the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines, holding down the position for two seasons. Now, Minter gets an even bigger promotion, this time to the NFL, where he’ll get a chance to call defensive plays for the first time in the pros.

As to whether he’s equipped for the job? Considering Michigan had college football’s best defense, allowing just 10.4 points per game, while winning the CFP National Championship, he seems more than capable.

Here’s how Minter’s defenses fared at Michigan.

	PPG Allowed	Total YPG Allowed	Sack Rate	YPR allowed
2022	16.1 (6th)	292.1 (5th)	7.47% (33rd)	3.3 (9th)
2023	9.5 (1st)	239.7 (2nd)	8.6% (14th)	2.9 (6th)

If he’s good enough for Harbaugh, he’s good enough for me. At 40 years old, Minter could fill this role for the Chargers for years to come, and who knows, if he can get better results than Brandon Staley did, maybe he could still become an NFL head coaching candidate somewhere else in due time.