Jesse Minter On Why Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Is ‘Excited’ About Changes

It’s a new era for the Baltimore Ravens with Jesse Minter as head coach. A new staff with new schemes, along with excitement about what’s ahead for quarterback Lamar Jackson in the new look Ravens’ offense under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.

“I know Lamar is excited,” Minter said at the NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix on Tuesday. “I think he’s excited about some of the changes. We’ve had a lot of good connection points, but the offseason program is voluntary.”

Doyle, who comes to Baltimore after spending 2025 as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, is 30 and slightly older than Jackson, who is 29. Minter hopes that Jackson and the Ravens can “hit the ground running” heading into 2026.

“You don’t become the level of player he is without a great work ethic, without being a great teammate, without being a leader,” Minter said. “Excited for him to continue to grow and evolve and become an even better version of Lamar.”

Jackson, who’s won NFL MVP twice in his career, is coming off a 2025 season where he played in just 13 games, throwing for 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions along with 349 rushing yards and two scores. Minter was asked about what kind of changes and expectations Jackson has from the staff, but he chose to keep those conversations private.

“A lot of that stuff I’ll probably keep between Lamar and I,” Minter said. “I think he’s excited for us to connect, for us to build a relationship, for us to trust each other, for us to be able to talk through things, for us to take his input on things. But also be willing to talk through it and not just go with something.”

While Minter didn’t confirm whether Jackson will be part of the voluntary portion of Baltimore’s offseason program, he didn’t rule it out either. Per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Jackson didn’t attend eight of nine voluntary on-field practices last spring. Baltimore’s offseason program begins on Monday, April 6, and on-field practices begin in May, while mandatory minicamp runs June 9 through June 11.

“I think Lamar is really excited about what we have going on,” Minter said. “I think he’s excited about opportunities in the offseason program.”

In regards to the partnership between Doyle and Jackson, it’s clear that Doyle has big expectations for Jackson and sees his best years ahead of him.

“When you watch the tape, there’s not really any throws that he can’t make,” Doyle said in February, per NFL.com writer Kevin Patra. “He’s very arm-talented. I think there’s even a higher ceiling to his game. You’re looking at a guy that’s been the MVP twice. And yet I still think just like all our guys, he still has room to grow.”

Jackson’s 63.6% completion rate in 2025 was his lowest since 2022 and his rushing total of 349 was by far the lowest of his career. Whether Baltimore’s new scheme rejuvenates Jackson and returns the Ravens to Super Bowl contention remains to be seen. Still, there’s clear hope and excitement in Baltimore.