The Washington Commanders are wasting no time reshaping their defensive identity under new leadership. After parting ways with defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., the team has turned to Daronte Jones, the Minnesota Vikings’ former defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, to take the reins. It’s a bold move-Jones has never called plays at the NFL level-but it signals a clear shift in philosophy for a defense that struggled to find consistency last season.
Whitt’s exit came after his playcalling responsibilities were stripped late in the year, with head coach Dan Quinn stepping in to handle the duties himself. That move alone hinted at bigger changes coming, and now we’re seeing the first dominoes fall.
Jones steps into a high-pressure role, tasked with revamping a unit that underperformed despite some notable talent. While his experience as a position coach and coordinator at the college level is solid, the NFL is a different beast. The question now is how Jones will structure his staff and scheme to fit the personnel in Washington-and whether he’ll bring a fresh approach or lean on familiar concepts from his time in Minnesota and LSU.
One assistant who won’t be part of that equation is Jason Simmons. Simmons had been the Commanders' defensive pass game coordinator, joining the team alongside Quinn and Whitt in 2024.
He was in the mix for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator job under new head coach Mike McCarthy, and while that position ultimately went to former Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Simmons will still be heading to Pittsburgh. He’s set to join McCarthy’s staff, returning to the city where he played safety for four seasons from 1998 to 2001.
He becomes the first assistant to officially depart, but he likely won’t be the last.
With new coordinators on both sides of the ball, expect a wave of changes across the coaching staff. The Commanders are clearly in the midst of a reset, and the defensive side is already taking shape under Jones.
Here’s how the current defensive coaching staff looks heading into the offseason:
- Defensive Coordinator - Daronte Jones
- Senior Defensive Assistant - John Pagano
- Defensive Backs Coach - Tommy Donatell
- Assistant Defensive Backs Coach - William Gay
- Linebackers Coach - Ken Norton Jr.
- Assistant LBs / Pass Rush Specialist - Position listed, coach not yet named
- Defensive Line Coach - Darryl Tapp
- Assistant Defensive Line Coach - Sharrif Floyd
- Defensive Quality Control - George Banko
There’s plenty of experience on this list-Pagano and Norton Jr. bring decades of NFL knowledge-but how this group gels under Jones’ leadership will be critical. The Commanders are betting on a new voice to energize a defense that needs to be more than just serviceable if Washington wants to contend in a competitive NFC East.
Jones has the opportunity to make his mark. Now it’s about building the right staff, developing the right scheme, and getting the most out of a defense that’s overdue for a resurgence.