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John Keim
The Washington Commanders are in the final stages of hiring Daronte Jones, currently with the Minnesota Vikings, as their new defensive coordinator, ESPN reported on Monday.
Jones will succeed Joe Whitt, who was dismissed earlier this month after two seasons with the team. In 2026, the Commanders will feature two new coordinators with David Blough taking over for Kliff Kingsbury on offense following the conclusion of the season.
Last season, the Commanders recorded a 5-12 record, a significant drop from their 12-5 performance the previous year that led them to the NFC Championship Game.
During this hiring process, Jones interviewed with five different teams, with feedback from one of them describing his interview as “impressive.” A former colleague noted last week that it was “only a matter of time” before Jones would secure a defensive coordinator role.
Since 2016, Jones has been involved in the NFL, with his only break being a season as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He joined the Vikings’ coach staff in 2022 focusing on defensive backs, and the following year, he was promoted to pass game coordinator, maintaining that role this past season.
Head coach Dan Quinn sought an experienced coordinator and interviewed several candidates, including Jonathan Gannon, Teryl Austin, Brian Flores, Joe Cullen, Dennard Wilson, and Patrick Graham.
While at LSU, Jones handled playcalling duties. He also gained experience under Flores and worked alongside notable defensive masterminds such as Mike Zimmer, Vance Joseph, and Marvin Lewis.
A native of the D.C. suburbs, Jones played college football at nearby Morgan State and coached at the collegiate level from 2001 to 2016, including a brief tenure as a high school coach and a year in the Canadian Football League.
The Washington defense is in dire need of revamping. Last season, they were ranked 27th in scoring and dead last in total yards. Quinn took over playcalling from Whitt during the Week 11 game against the Dolphins, with the team allowing 34 or more points in four of the previous seven games leading up to the switch.
This offseason, the Commanders are poised to prioritize acquiring young defensive talent through free agency or the draft, where they hold the seventh overall pick.
