The Washington Commanders have agreed to hire Daronte Jones, the Minnesota Vikingsā defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, as their new defensive coordinator, according to multiple reports Monday night.
The move fills a critical vacancy for head coach Dan Quinn after the team dismissed Joe Whitt Jr. at the end of a disappointing 2025 season and aims to revitalize a defense that collapsed last year.
Jones, 47, emerges from a wide-ranging search as Quinnās choice to lead the unit. The Commanders interviewed nine candidates for the position, including Jonesās former superior in Minnesota, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who ultimately decided to remain with the Vikings.
Jones, who interviewed with Washington over the weekend, was the ninth and final candidate to meet with the team. His hiring pairs him with first-time offensive coordinator David Blough, solidifying Quinnās staff for the 2026 campaign.
The new coordinator brings a respected track record of developing defensive backs and engineering productive pass defenses. Over the past three seasons as the Vikingsā defensive passing game coordinator, Jones worked closely under Flores and helped engineer one of the leagueās most formidable secondaries.
In 2024, Minnesotaās defense led the NFL with 24 interceptions and 95 passes defensed, playing a pivotal role in the teamās 14-3 record. Under his guidance, cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. earned a Pro Bowl selection with a career-high six interceptions in 2024, while veterans like Harrison Smith and Patrick Peterson also thrived.
Jones now faces the formidable challenge of overhauling a Commanders defense that was among the worst in the league in 2025. The unit finished last in total yards allowed (384 per game) and 27th in points allowed.
A particular point of emphasis for Quinn has been the lack of takeaways; Washington forced a league-low 10 turnovers last season, resulting in a dismal minus-13 turnover margin. āThe things that Iām not pleased with are our turnover margin and not creating enough takeaways,ā Quinn said in his end-of-season news conference earlier this month.
A native of Prince Georgeās County, Maryland, Jones returns to his home region with over two decades of coaching experience. His journey to this first NFL coordinator role includes college positions at LSU, where he served as defensive coordinator in 2021, Wisconsin, and Hawaii, plus NFL assistant roles with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals before his tenure in Minnesota.
For the Commanders, the hire represents a bet on a coach known for developing talent and producing turnovers, precisely the qualities their defense lacked. As one fan noted on social media, the philosophy Jones learned under respected defensive minds like Flores, Vance Joseph, and Mike Zimmer could portend success.
The task ahead is significant, but the organization hopes Jonesās aggressive, ball-hawking defensive approach will help the team recapture the form that propelled it to the NFC Championship game in 2024.