Miami Dolphins coaching search: Rising star Jesse Minter interviews
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The Miami Dolphins are interviewing Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator, for their head coach opening.
The Dolphins are one of eight teams that have requested to speak with the rising coaching star.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan must decide on a replacement for fired coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins would clearly have had interest in former Ravens coach John Harbaugh (next Giants coach) and former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. And a source told the Post Tomlin is not expected to coach next season.
Among other coaches of interest for the Dolphins are:
- Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator
- Jeff Hafley, Packers defensive coordinator
- Kevin Stefanski, former Browns head coach
- Robert Saleh, former Jets head coach
- Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator
- Kelvin Sheppard, Lions defensive coordinator
- Anthony Campanile, Jaguars defensive coordinator
- Patrick Graham, Raiders defensive coordinator
- Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator
Here are 5 things to know about Jesse Minter
- Jesse Minter, 42, is a native of Arkansas. Minter has coached at Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Indiana State, Georgia State, Baltimore Ravens, Vanderbilt, Michigan and the Los Angeles Chargers, where he is currently defensive coordinator. The Chargers defense finished fifth in the NFL in total defense this season. The Chargers were first in the NFL in scoring defense in 2024.
- Minter led a dominant defense at Michigan and helped lead the program to a national championship under Jim Harbaugh. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and CEO Tom Garfinkel are Michigan men and the owner is close to Harbaugh. Minter led a unit that led the entire NCAA in scoring defense, at 10.4 points per game and forced a ton of turnovers. Harbaugh has said Minter "checks every box," as a future head coach. "He’s a humble warrior… he’s always — more is more for Jesse," Jim Harbaugh said. "He’s just intuitive. He knows how an offense is going to try to attack."
- Minter is the son of longtime college and pro coach Rick Minter. In 2003, Jesse was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and had 18 inches of his colon removed, according to The Athletic. He's had no complications.
- Minter told The Athletic he received 98 rejection letters when he attempted to begin his college coaching career. “A lot of coaches have crazy egos, and I think there’s a difference in being confident in yourself and sure of yourself, and then having an ego,” Jesse said. “I’ve always tried really, really hard to not have an ego, to really try to build a situation where everybody feels like they have value, where everybody feels like they’re part of the success.”
- Minter has said his four defensive pillars are: "Block destruction, communication, effort and ball disruption." He has actually assigned one defensive assistant for each pillar. Colleagues have described Minter as intellectual, analytical, collaborative, detail-oriented and humble. "It’s a relationship business and our success is going to be based on our ability to connect with the guys to get them to trust us, to get them to buy into what we’re trying to do," Minter said.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jesse Minter: Chargers DC is Miami Dolphins candidate
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