Tushar
Rick and Jesse Minter have always had a special meaning for Father’s Day. But Sunday is going to be really good this Sunday. For the first time in their careers, the Minters are coaching together in the NFL. This is their sixth partnership overall.
Along with his father, senior defensive analyst Rick Minter, and Jim Harbaugh’s staff at the University of Michigan, Jesse Minter, the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers, just celebrated a national title in January.
“I don’t want to say he’s winding down because he hasn’t slowed down. But as you get older and get to that point in your career, to have the opportunity to win a championship together, there’s really not a better story,” Jesse said. “And, just from there, it was great to stay with Coach Harbaugh, keep the band together, and move out west.”
Rick took over to coach the final six games after Chris Partridge, Michigan’s linebacker coach, was fired. Due to his mother’s 90th birthday, Rick was unable to attend Michigan’s ring ceremony in April, instead, Jesse gave him the rings in Southern California prior to a staff meeting.
Even now, after we won the national title, it still hasn’t really hit home. We go on to the following drill and day. You know, I’ll reflect on it even more in the future. Rick thought, “I have those rings, and they endure forever.
Rick, who turns 70 on October 4, has been a head coach at the University of Cincinnati for ten years, among his more than forty-five years of coaching expertise.
Jimbo Fisher and future NFL coaches Mike Tomlin, Rex Ryan, and John Harbaugh were all coached by him while he was in Cincinnati. Tomlin and Harbaugh have each won Super Bowls, and Fisher won a national championship while playing for Florida State.
As a linebackers coach on Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles staff in 2013, Rick started his NFL career. After playing for the Eagles for three seasons (2013–15), he went back to coaching at the collegiate level. Rick had originally hoped to enter the NFL by the time he was 50 years old, but with Kelly’s help, he eventually joined the league at the age of 60.
“I finally got in the league pushing 60 years old. I was blessed to coach with a good friend in Chip Kelly. All that was good for me, and it was good to be in the league,” Rick said. “I’m happy to be back, but I’m happy for Jesse to be back, too. Now we can enjoy the fruits of the labor of the NFL.”
During his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens under head coach John Harbaugh from 2017 to 20, Jesse worked as a defensive assistant before taking on the role of defensive backs coach.
Before Jim Harbaugh brought the Minters to Michigan, they were back together at Vanderbilt in 2021, with Rick serving as an analyst and Jesse as the defensive coordinator and safety coach.
“The thing that he’s always done for me ever since I got into this profession, he’s looked out for me first and himself second,” Jesse said. “As a son, it’s what you want in a dad. I’m able to come into work every day and run stuff by him, and he can come into my office and tell me the truth or look at things another way. There’s not a lot of guys that have that guy, particularly when it’s your dad. We don’t always see things the same, but we know that I have his best interest, and he has my best interests.”
Jim Harbaugh, who coached at Western Kentucky alongside his own father, Jack, cherishes the bond between the Minters. “I have a deep affection for the father-son dynamic,” stated Harbaugh. “I enjoy watching Rick Minter’s relationship with Jesse and having football conversations with him.”
There are at least five father-and-son teams on the same NFL staff as the Minters. De’Andre Pierce assists Antonio Pierce on offense for the Las Vegas Raiders, Spencer Reid assists Andy Reid as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, Christian Daboll assists his father Brian as an offensive assistant with the New York Giants; and Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan has his father Bill as the offensive line coach.
Antonio Pierce, whose son De’Andre was born when he was eighteen, finds great satisfaction in having his son work for him. “You have a son, I’m pursuing my career goal, and there are a lot of things I missed in my sophomore year of college.” I was unable to accompany him to numerous performances, graduations, and practices.
And I didn’t want to have the possibility of missing things again when I grew older and stopped playing,” Pierce remarked. “There’s nothing like that relationship for all of our coaches and all the fathers out there, which is the cool part about it and Father’s Day coming up.”
On Sunday, Rick and Jesse will get together to celebrate their friendship and love of football. Josh, Jesse’s older brother, will FaceTime with them from New York.
“It feels nice to be referred to as a coach,” Rick remarked after a brief pause. Nonetheless, being named Dad is a great honor.
Source: AP
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