In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we asked Baltimore Beatdown readers which offseason change would impact the Ravens the most in 2026.
Hiring head coach Jesse Minter was the resounding winner with 74% of the vote. In hindsight, this is a fairly predictable result considering fans’ animosity towards John Harbaugh by the end of his tenure and desire to replace him with a young, forward-thinking successor.
Truth be told, it might have been more interesting to compare only the other three options,
plus perhaps the potential return of Nnamdi Madubuike. Bolstering the trenches via All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and first-round guard Vega Ioane were the second- and third-highest results, respectively, with hiring Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator trailing in fourth.
Minter’s impact can be most simply described with the following formula: Lamar Jackson + a top-10 defense = wins, and a lot of ‘em. The Chargers fielded a top-10 defense in both of Minter’s years as defensive coordinator, and the Ravens’ roster is decidedly more talented. Whether it is getting stars like Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey back to their peak performance or unlocking youngsters like Malaki Starks and Mike Green, Minter has plenty of ways to reform Baltimore’s defense into one of the league’s best. (That’s not even mentioning whatever he has planned for Kyle Hamilton!)
Minter also brings high-level cultural change that fans have been clamoring for, with a focus on standards and accountability. There are, no doubt, plenty of advantages of the continuity and experience of a longtime head coach, but that can also lead to complacency. Minter is not tearing down and rebuilding the Ravens Way; rather, he is tasked with bringing the team back to a path they have strayed from in recent years.
Expectations are typically lower for first-time, first-year head coaches, but the Ravens are tied for the NFL’s second-best Super Bowl odds via FanDuel Sportsbook). Minter himself is a clear second in Coach of the Year odds, behind – you guessed it – John Harbaugh.
