Ravens Insider: Some Ravens players were ‘very helpful’ in choosing Jesse Minter as coach

[ExtremeRavens]

Eric DeCosta didn’t do it alone.

The Ravens’ general manager said Thursday that a “small group” of both offensive and defensive players, many of whom are veterans, helped Baltimore choose Jesse Minter to be its next coach.

“Their opinion was valuable and very helpful,” DeCosta said at Minter’s introductory news conference in Owings Mills. “They came at it from a different perspective as players. The feedback that we got from the candidates was fantastic.”

The players’ roles are not finished. DeCosta said that the group is also helping evaluate candidates for the team’s offensive and defensive coordinator positions and other roles on the coaching staff.

Minter’s hiring, announced last Thursday, marked DeCosta’s first head-coaching search since becoming general manager in 2019. While DeCosta was involved in the hiring of John Harbaugh in 2008 as director of college scouting, this process was different. He was leading this.

Zoom interviews played a major role, allowing the Ravens to gather information quickly while expanding the scope of voices involved.

“The integration of technology allows us to talk to a lot more people in a very short amount of time, which is an opportunity and a challenge,” Ravens president Sashi Brown said.

Players participated in interviews in-person or remotely. DeCosta declined to identify those involved, saying only that they were “veteran players that had inquired about being a part of the process.”

Owner Steve Bisciotti previously encouraged quarterback Lamar Jackson to take part, though it was not disclosed whether the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player participated in interviews. Jackson was not among the nine current players present Thursday.

“I think relationships take time, and so you don’t become the head coach of the Ravens and expect to have a deep relationship with anybody,” Minter said of the star quarterback. “I just look forward to connecting with him, helping him become the best version of himself.”

DeCosta acknowledged that it initially took some time for him to envision Minter, who worked in Baltimore from 2017 to 2020 as a defensive assistant and defensive backs coach, as a head coach. . That perception shifted as DeCosta gathered feedback from those who had worked closely with Minter, including Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who worked closely with DeCosta as Baltimore’s director of player personnel before landing in Los Angeles, and former Ravens safeties Tony Jefferson and Eric Weddle.

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“Watching him last year … and watching that defense, I’m like, ‘Damn, this is a good team. This is a really good defense. Jesse’s doing a hell of a job,’ ” DeCosta said. “I think it takes a whole process of accumulating information and really removing all the biases that you have in your head.”

Minter wouldn’t confirm any hires or timelines for when positions will be filled. He did say that the offensive and defensive coordinator searches are “very far along,” adding that announcements would come “in the near future.”

Amid their search for a head coach, the Ravens interviewed several candidates who could fit as offensive coordinator, including former Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Rams pass game coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase and Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb.

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Whoever is chosen will play a critical role in the Ravens’ future, particularly in shaping the working relationship with Jackson. That hire carries far more weight than the defensive coordinator decision after Minter said that he will call the defensive plays.

With the hires to shape his staff, Minter isn’t just looking for schematic expertise. He explicitly says player buy-in is required.

“I’m looking for leaders and connectors and relationship builders and schematic expertise, but most importantly, guys that the players believe in,” Minter said. “I think [we will excel] when they feel that it’s collaborative, and they feel that it’s ours and not just the coaches.”

Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes.

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