Commanders' New Coordinators, David Blough and Daronte Jones, Take Different Roads to the Same Destination
The Washington Commanders are entering a new era with two fresh faces calling the shots on either side of the ball - David Blough and Daronte Jones. Both are first-time NFL coordinators, but that’s about where the similarities end. Their paths to Ashburn couldn’t be more different, and understanding those roads offers insight into what each might bring to the table in 2026.
Let’s start with David Blough. At just 30 years old, he’s making a rapid ascent in the coaching world.
A former quarterback who played his college ball at Purdue, Blough was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in his final season before going undrafted in 2019. He bounced around a bit - signed by the Browns and Vikings, then landing with the Lions and Cardinals, where he saw real NFL action under center.
After wrapping up his playing days, Blough transitioned into coaching - and fast. He’s only two years removed from his first coaching gig, both seasons spent as the Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach. Now, in his third year - and still early in his post-playing career - he’s been handed the keys to the offense.
On the other side of the ball is Daronte Jones, a 47-year-old coaching veteran with a résumé that stretches across high school, college, the CFL, and the NFL. Jones, a Maryland native who played at Morgan State after starting at Temple, never played professionally. Instead, he jumped straight into coaching after college and hasn’t looked back since.
Jones’ coaching journey includes two years at the high school level, a start as a graduate assistant at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, and a five-year stint at Bowie State. From there, he built a diverse and expansive portfolio: stops at Nicholls State, UCLA, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and LSU on the college side; plus NFL experience with the Dolphins, Bengals, and two separate stints with the Vikings. Now, after 25 years in the game, he finally gets his shot as an NFL coordinator.
So yes, both men are stepping into their first NFL coordinator roles. But the contrast in experience is stark.
Blough is still in the early chapters of his coaching story, while Jones has been grinding on sidelines for over two decades. Blough is familiar with the Commanders’ system, having worked alongside Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels the past two seasons.
That familiarity is expected to translate into continuity on offense, with Quinn and Blough both emphasizing a smooth transition - though one notable change will be more snaps taken under center.
Jones, meanwhile, is coming in with a clean slate and a green light. Quinn has made it clear: the defense is Jones’ to run. That autonomy suggests a fresh identity on that side of the ball, with Jones expected to implement his own scheme and philosophy after years of learning from different systems across the country.
What’s clear is that the Commanders aren’t taking a one-size-fits-all approach to their coordinator hires. They’ve entrusted the offense to a young, ascending coach with recent playing experience and familiarity with the current roster. And they’ve handed the defense to a seasoned veteran who’s earned his shot through years of dedication and development.
In the end, it won’t be about age, background, or coaching mileage. It’ll be about results.
If Blough gets the most out of Jayden Daniels and the offense hums, and if Jones can mold the defense into a disciplined, aggressive unit - nobody’s going to be talking about how many years they’ve been coaching. They’ll be talking about wins.