Jesse Minter is headed to Baltimore.
The Ravens announced Thursday that they have agreed to terms with Minter to be their new Head Coach, meaning the Chargers are now looking for a new Defensive Coordinator.
Minter's departure isn't a surprise in Southern California as both Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said last week they expected the 42-year-old to get a top coaching gig.
"Not so much a question of if, we've known that. It's a question of when," Harbaugh said. "The product that Jesse has established as the head coach of the defense, that's so good that we know it's a matter of when. We've been preparing for that."
Hortiz added: "You're prepared … you have a list of candidates ready if he does depart. We have a lot of great coaches on the staff, on the defensive staff that will be considered too if he does depart. We got great players here, on both sides of the ball. I have confidence in them that if Jesse does get an opportunity, which would be well deserved, we'll be able to adjust."
Minter transformed the Chargers defense into one of the league's top units as the Bolts ranked sixth in defensive EPA per play (-0.069) and tied for sixth in success rate (42.1 percent) over the past two seasons.
The Chargers were third in total points allowed (641) over the past two seasons, which equates to just 18.9 points per game.
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley raved about Minter's coaching style and leadership earlier this month.
"Everything," Henley said when asked about Minter's impact on him. "All my production has happened under him.
"He's the play caller so I give him a lot of credit, right? I'm grateful to have experienced him as a coach and know that he is more than deserving of an opportunity that is coming his way," Henley continued.
"I know that whoever he's going to be coaching, they'll be grateful for it just as I was," Henley added. "He deserves everything that is coming his way."
Derwin James also said he fully expected Minter to be a head coach.
"He's that guy. He's that leader, that alpha. Guys play hard for him," James said. "He's just that dude. Every day, you know what you're doing to get with him."
Harbaugh said earlier this month that the Chargers would be "open" to all potential defensive coordinator candidates, with Hortiz noting they would look at all coaches and schemes.
"The players we have on defense, I think they are scheme versatile," Hortiz said.
"If you look at what we do on defense, we play multiple schemes already.
"Guys fit in different ways depending on what grouping we have out there on the field," Hortiz added. "We just want the best candidate if we're in that position."
