Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Search: Could Michigan's Jesse Minter Be an Option?

Could Jacksonville's coordinator search involve a rising star from the college ranks?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the second week of their search for a new defensive coordinator, a search that to this point has consisted of candidates from the NFL ranks.

According to a report from Sam Webb of 247Sports, there appears to be a real chance that Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator Jesse Minter could be looking for a job in the NFL in 2024, whether with Jim Harbaugh or without him. 

Could that include him looking at the Jaguars' vacancy? Webb reports that it could, saying Minter is “a leading candidate” to be the Jaguars' coordinator and “could have that job if he wants it,”.

Minter, 40, has NFL experience but has never been a coordinator at the NFL level. After four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Georgia State from 2013-2016, Minter held his first NFL job as a defensive assistant in 2017. In 2019, Minter was promoted to assistant defensive backs coach. In 2020, he was promoted again by Baltimore to defensive backs coach.

After serving as defensive coordinator and safeties coach for Vanderbilt in 2021, Minter has spent the last two years as Harbaugh's coordinator at Michigan. Minter is the direct successor of former Wolverines coordinator and current Ravens coordinator Mike Macdonald. 

Michigan finished No. 1 in total defense in 2023 and No. 2 in pass defense as they went undefeated and won the national championship. 

The Jaguars are looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing former coordinator Mike Caldwell a week ago. The Jaguars also fired seven other defensive assistants, leaving only three of Pederson's 11 defensive staff members left.