If the Las Vegas Raiders hire Jesse Minter as head coach, it won’t be a splash—it’ll be a statement: defensive structure, weekly consistency and a shot at the AFC West. Besides, you’d be severely weakening the Los Angeles Chargers in the process.
The Raiders’ request to interview the Chargers’ defensive coordinator is not routine. It signals what Las Vegas is prioritizing: a head coach who can build a weekly defensive baseline that holds up through injuries, underwhelming offensive outings, and December football in the AFC West. In this division, credibility is not claimed. It is sustained.
NFL rules keep early talks virtual until Jan. 19. That makes this stage a real audit: does Las Vegas have a plan or just a list?
What would Jesse Minter bring to the Raiders?
Minter’s appeal is structural. The Chargers live in two-high looks and heavy zone to choke explosive plays and force long drives. The results have been consistent—fewer easy throws, more mistakes created, and a defense that travels.
I gotta be honest, I feel Jesse Minter should be getting more love in the hiring process across the league. pic.twitter.com/1Xp0Dc1R4S
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) January 12, 2026
But a defensive head coach becomes an offensive story the moment the Raiders draft a quarterback. If Las Vegas uses the No. 1 pick on a passer, it is buying a timeline. Timelines collapse when the offensive staff turns over and development resets.
The question is not whether Minter can coach defense. It is whether he can run the whole building—hire the right staff, protect a quarterback development plan, and install a weekly process that keeps the floor high while the offense (presumably led by Fernando Mendoza at that point) matures. If the Raiders choose him, it is a defensive statement. The offense still has to be built with equal intent, so that’ll be the challenge.
Thoughts, Raider Nation—how would you feel about a young defensive mind taking the reins in Sin City?
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images