Ranking the Top 5 NFL Defensive Coordinator Hires: Minter Hits LA
John Canady
Host · Writer
5. Dennard Wilson, Tennessee Titans
Dennard Wilson has bounced around in the NFL as a talented young defensive coach. The former player has yet to be given a real chance to run his own defense. Still, with Brian Callahan taking over in Tennessee, Wilson will finally get the opportunity to shape a defense to his liking and finally put his knowledge of the game on full display. With the countless stops the 41-year-old made along the journey to land this gig with the Titans, he can show everything he’s learned as a sponge over the years.
1. Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers broke headlines when they struck a deal with the biggest fish in the coaching cycle as they lured Jim Harbaugh to Los Angeles away from the NCAA. Fresh off a national championship with Michigan, Harbaugh made the leap back to the NFL to coach his former team. Along with his run with Michigan, the Wolverines' dominant defense was possibly the key to their championship win. Harbaugh brought that key with him to LA when he struck a deal to hire Jesse Minter as the team’s defensive coordinator. The young yet brilliant Minter has proven to be an elite thinker defensively, and he gets his first chance as a defensive coordinator in the NFL alongside Harbaugh.
2. Mike Zimmer, Dallas Cowboys
Mike Zimmer was one of the more recent hirings, but by no means should his addition to the Cowboys be scraped under the rug. Zimmer has been out of the coaching game since being fired from the Vikings in 2021. The former head coach spent the last two years as a consultant alongside Deion Sanders in college football. But with Dan Quinn taking the head coaching job in Washington, Zimmer seized the opportunity to return to the NFL and call plays for a talented defense.
3. Anthony Weaver, Miami Dolphins
Anthony Weaver may be one of the more underrated hires of this coaching cycle. The Dolphins entered the coaching market after Vic Fangio and the team decided to part ways. Miami found their future coordinator in Weaver, who has served as the Ravens' assistant head coach and defensive line coach since 2021. Baltimore felt the need to up the ante to keep the defensive coach on their staff, but he ultimately decided to take on the challenge with the Dolphins and lead his own defense. It speaks volumes about how respected Weaver is in the coaching world, and it will be interesting to see how he uses the talent on Miami’s roster to build his defensive scheme.
4. Joe Whitt Jr., Washington Commanders
Joe Whitt Jr. was quickly hired as the defensive coordinator under Dan Quinn in Washington after the new head coach got the job with the Commanders. Whitt Jr. has been the Cowboys' secondary coach and pass game coordinator since 2021. With the success the team’s secondary had under Quinn and Whitt Jr., the hire was no surprise. The experienced coach clearly impressed Quinn during their time in Dallas, as it took no time for the defensive coaching staff to take shape.
5. Dennard Wilson, Tennessee Titans
Dennard Wilson has bounced around in the NFL as a talented young defensive coach. The former player has yet to be given a real chance to run his own defense. Still, with Brian Callahan taking over in Tennessee, Wilson will finally get the opportunity to shape a defense to his liking and finally put his knowledge of the game on full display. With the countless stops the 41-year-old made along the journey to land this gig with the Titans, he can show everything he’s learned as a sponge over the years.
1. Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers broke headlines when they struck a deal with the biggest fish in the coaching cycle as they lured Jim Harbaugh to Los Angeles away from the NCAA. Fresh off a national championship with Michigan, Harbaugh made the leap back to the NFL to coach his former team. Along with his run with Michigan, the Wolverines' dominant defense was possibly the key to their championship win. Harbaugh brought that key with him to LA when he struck a deal to hire Jesse Minter as the team’s defensive coordinator. The young yet brilliant Minter has proven to be an elite thinker defensively, and he gets his first chance as a defensive coordinator in the NFL alongside Harbaugh.
