Daronte Jones to DC? A Profile of the Commanders Candidate

As most of the DMV hunkers down and settles into a Snow Day, the Washington Commanders continue to work through the cold in pursuit of a new leader for their defense.

Per reports, Washington is scheduled to interview Vikings Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Daronte Jones for their vacant Defensive Coordinator position today. With nearly 25 years of coaching experience, Jones offers an intriguing option to spearhead the Commanders in 2026. Here is a profile of his background and the unique "classroom" approach he brings to the table.

One thing you can say about Jones is that he is incredibly well-traveled. His experience ranges from high school coordinator to Division II assistant head coach, and from the Canadian Football League to the Big Ten. He has also spent time as a defensive backs coach for three NFL teams, including the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and two separate stints with the Minnesota Vikings.

Jones’s coaching philosophy centers on being an effective teacher—meeting players where they are in terms of learning styles. This is rooted in the fact that he began his coaching tenure as a physical education teacher in Louisiana, at both Franklin and Jeanerette Senior High Schools.

In a 2021 interview, he shared how that background shapes his leadership:

“Some players learn best watching film, some players learn best in walkthroughs, some players actually have to do it several times to get it. So when you are installing a defense, you want to incorporate every type of learning style.”

This approach may be the exact guidance Washington needs. The 2025 season was a defensive nightmare, with the Commanders finishing dead last (32nd) in total defense, surrendering a staggering 384.3 yards per game. A patient educator could be the missing piece to solving the "lost" feeling that plagued the unit this past year.

The appeal of Jones is that he is the right-hand man to one of the hottest defensive minds in the NFL, Brian Flores. Flores has been a hot name in the head coaching cycle, having been widely connected to the Pittsburgh Steelers job before they officially agreed to terms with Mike McCarthy yesterday.

Washington is hoping to import some of the aggressive magic that defined Minnesota’s defense this year. While the Commanders’ secondary was often a "green light" for opposing quarterbacks—ranking 28th in passing yards allowed and 31st in takeaways—Jones helped build a wall in Minnesota.

This past season, the Vikings' secondary under Jones's watch was one of the stingiest in the NFL, finishing No. 2 in passing yards allowed (158.5 per game). Perhaps even more importantly for a Washington team that recorded only 8 interceptions and finished with a league-worst -13 turnover ratio, Jones’s units are known for their discipline and ball-hawking nature. In 2024, the Vikings led the NFL with 24 interceptions and 95 passes defended. Bringing that philosophy to DC could finally unlock the raw potential of third-year CB Mikey Sainristil and second-year CB Trey Amos.

Another appealing factor is that Jones is a local product. Born in Capitol Heights, Maryland, he attended Bishop McNamara High School. After a season at Temple, he played cornerback for four seasons at Morgan State University. However, he did not pursue a professional playing career due to multiple injuries and evidence of nerve damage.  

His first major coaching success came at Bowie State University from 2005–2009. While there, Jones’s defense was an aggressive, attacking unit that ranked No. 1 in Division II in total defense in 2009, allowing only 217.7 yards per game. During his five-year tenure, his defenses finished in the national top three in total defense three different times.

To be objective, Jones’s path hasn't always been linear. He was a one-and-done defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021. However, he inherited a historically porous defense during a transition year where head coach Ed Orgeron was essentially a "lame duck."

That year, LSU allowed 377.5 yards per game, but Jones was credited with stabilizing a unit that had been far worse the year prior. When Orgeron exited, the staff was released, but Jones’s work was respected enough to earn him an immediate return to the NFL.

Since returning to the Vikings in 2022 and moving into his current role in 2023, Jones has become a hot commodity. He has already interviewed with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers this offseason. While the two New York jobs remain wide open, the Dallas Cowboys have already bowed out of the race after hiring Christian Parker as their new coordinator.

By the time you are reading this, Jones may have concluded his interview in Ashburn. Given his local roots, his reputation as a "teacher," and his experience in a top-ranked Vikings secondary, he is a formidable candidate to lead this defense into 2026.

Where does he land in your tier of candidates?