Ravens' Jesse Minter's First Warning To Steelers Will Have Everyone Talking: "I Hate Them"

Despite few pundits or experts believing the Pittsburgh Steelers could win the AFC North in the 2025 season, Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers did just that. Rodgers and Tomlin finished 10-7 in the regular season and punched a ticket to the playoffs after beating the Baltimore Ravens in the Week 18 regular season finale. However, the Steelers were eliminated at home in a 24-point loss shortly after that win, and Tomlin decided it was time to step away from coaching.

Now, Mike McCarthy is in Steel City, eager to turn things around and end the playoff drought. To do that, he will need to replicate what Tomlin did in 2025, starting by winning the AFC North again. McCarthy is not the only new head coach in the division. The Cleveland Browns fired Kevin Stefanski and hired Todd Monken, while the Ravens parted ways with John Harbaugh and brought in Jesse Minter.

With all the shakeups at the top of the AFC North, football fans are eager to see what happens next. For nearly two decades, fans watched Harbaugh and Tomlin clash in classic matchups, but now new names are in the mix. Speaking with CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones on Wednesday, Minter issued his first warning to Pittsburgh and the rest of the AFC North.

"I don't want to lose to anybody in our division," Minter said Tuesday while speaking with Jones via CBS Sports. "Yeah, I hate them [Steelers], in a sense like, I respect the rivalry. When I was here prior, Mike Tomlin, who's a mentor of mine, there's a high, high level of respect for the Steelers, their organization, how they operate, Bengals, their organization, how they operate, Cleveland, their organization, how they operate."

AFC North football is a different breed and a unique brand of the game. It takes a level of mental fortitude to compete in those cold, hard-fought rivalry games every season. Minter is well aware of that and knows that he, like every coach in the NFL, will be tasked with trying to win his division. 

He also understands that winning in the AFC North requires more than Xs and Os; it demands leadership, preparation, and the ability to handle pressure week after week. Every matchup in this division carries weight, and Minter is prepared to meet those challenges head-on from day one.

"At the same time, those are the teams you need to beat to be successful," Minter said. "There's just a higher level of priority on those teams. When you operate, when you're building your systems, it's to be able to win those games."

Steelers fans are excited to see how McCarthy himself will navigate the AFC North. He has coached in tough divisions before, and his 18 seasons, 13 with the Green Bay Packers and five with the Dallas Cowboys, have certainly prepared him for the noise and scrutiny of Steelers fans after a loss. 

Beyond experience, McCarthy brings a reputation for adaptability and for getting the best out of his quarterbacks, a skill that could be key in a division filled with new coaches and hungry teams. While the expectations in Pittsburgh are high, McCarthy has the chance to write a new chapter for the franchise, one that balances steady leadership with the aggressive, hard-nosed style this division demands. 

Steelers Faithful Are Starting To Have Faith In Mike McCarthy

Fans will be watching closely to see if he can not only survive the challenges of the AFC North, but also return the Steelers to consistent playoff contention. How he handles adversity, rivalries, and the intensity of Pittsburgh’s fanbase may define his legacy in Steel City. 

With so many changes across the division, every week will feel like a test, and every game will carry weight. Steelers supporters are hoping that McCarthy can bring stability, strong leadership, and a renewed sense of belief to the team.

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