The Washington Commanders have made their move on the defensive side of the ball, officially naming Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator. It’s a significant hire for a franchise looking to reset its identity under a fresh regime. Jones, who most recently served as the Vikings’ defensive pass game coordinator, brings with him a diverse and well-traveled coaching résumé that spans college football, the CFL, and multiple NFL stops.
At 46, Jones is no stranger to the grind. His coaching journey began back in 2001 as a graduate assistant at Lenoir-Rhyne, and from there, he carved out a path through smaller programs like Nicholls State and Bowie State before landing at UCLA in 2010. That was a key turning point, setting the stage for a jump to the professional ranks.
In 2011, Jones took his talents north of the border to the CFL, coaching defensive backs for the Montreal Alouettes. That international experience added another layer to his coaching toolbox, and by 2016, he’d broken into the NFL with the Miami Dolphins as an assistant defensive backs coach. Stops in Cincinnati (as cornerbacks coach) and Minnesota followed, with a one-year detour to LSU in 2021, where he served as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.
That LSU stint was his first shot at running an entire defense, and while it was brief, it gave him a taste of what it’s like to be the guy calling the shots. He returned to the Vikings the next year and has been a key part of their defensive staff ever since.
The Commanders considered a deep pool of candidates before landing on Jones. Among those in the mix were Seahawks defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator Karl Scott, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, and Titans DC Dennard Wilson, who has since moved on to the Giants. Former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon (now with the Packers), Vikings DC Brian Flores, and Steelers DC Teryl Austin were also part of the interview process.
But in the end, it was Jones who stood out.
This hire signals a shift in Washington’s defensive philosophy - not necessarily a wholesale overhaul, but certainly a recalibration. Jones has a reputation for connecting with players and building tough, disciplined secondaries. His work with the Vikings’ defensive backs helped shape a unit that often punched above its weight, especially in high-leverage passing situations.
For the Commanders, who are coming off a season where defensive consistency was hard to come by, Jones brings a fresh voice and a well-rounded perspective. He’s coached at nearly every level, seen multiple systems, and worked under a variety of defensive minds. That kind of experience matters, especially for a team that’s trying to reestablish its identity on that side of the ball.
The challenge now? Translating all that experience into results.
Washington has talent on defense, but it’s going to be up to Jones to unlock it. If he can get this group flying around and playing with the kind of edge his past units have shown, the Commanders might just have found the right man to lead their defensive revival.