The younger Minter and Macdonald worked together for four years on Baltimore’s staff (2017-2020) and helped craft the Ravens’ innovative defensive scheme. Both left to become college defensive coordinators in 2021, Minter at Vanderbilt and Macdonald at Michigan.
When Macdonald returned to the Ravens the following season to become their defensive coordinator, Minter replaced him at Michigan and helped the Wolverines win the national championship. In 2024, Macdonald was hired as the Seahawks’ head coach while Minter took over as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers.
Former linebacker Tyus Bowser, who played for the Ravens during Macdonald and Minter’s stints as assistant coaches in Baltimore and one season under Macdonald in Seattle, spoke about the similarities between the two on “Glenn Clark Radio.”
Bowser said they have the same energy and “overall sense of the game to complement not only the defense, but the offense and special teams side as well.
“I compare him very well to Mike Macdonald in just the way that he carries himself, where he’s very engaged in those young [players] and he knows what’s needed for them to succeed and to be locked in, along with having that same mindset that John Harbaugh had – having the culture, having a team-minded mentality to go out there and play for each other.”
Vanderbilt Head Coach Clark Lea, who hired Minter as his defensive coordinator in 2021 and has spent time with him in Los Angeles and Macdonald in Seattle, also sees similarities.
“The common threads are, they’re both really smart, they’re both process-driven, they’re both critical thinkers, they both tend to adjust and adapt,” Lea told The Baltimore Sun.
Macdonald expects big things from Minter in Baltimore.
“Phenomenal coach,” Macdonald said at Friday’s media session when asked about Minter’s hiring. “A great person. Obviously, he’s a friend of mine. He’s going to do great.”
