With Daronte Jones stepping in as the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, the winds of change are already blowing through Ashburn. And if the early signs are any indication, this isn’t just a fresh coat of paint - it’s a full renovation on that side of the ball.
The first domino to fall? Jason Simmons.
The now-former defensive pass game coordinator didn’t wait around to see where he stood in Jones’ plans. Instead, he quietly made his exit, and while he didn’t land the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator job he interviewed for, he’s still expected to join Mike McCarthy’s staff in a prominent defensive role.
That move reunites Simmons with both McCarthy and Patrick Graham, who ultimately got the DC nod in Pittsburgh. All three have Green Bay ties, and those relationships clearly helped open a new door for Simmons.
What’s telling here is that the Commanders didn’t put up a fight to keep him.
Simmons’ work with Washington’s pass defense last season was under heavy scrutiny - and not without reason. Injuries played a role, sure, but the unit struggled mightily across the board.
With Jones coming in, it’s clear he’s looking to build a staff that fits his own philosophy and vision. Simmons, it seems, wasn’t part of that picture.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Jones is expected to bring his own people in - coaches who understand his scheme, who can teach it, and who can help turn around a defense that, frankly, was one of the worst in the league last season. That’s not hyperbole; the Commanders' defense was consistently out of sync, giving up big plays and failing to generate stops when it mattered. A reset was needed, and Simmons’ departure feels like the first step in that process.
For Simmons, this is a chance to hit the reset button in a new environment with familiar faces. For Washington, it’s an opportunity to start reshaping a defensive identity that’s been lost in recent years.
And make no mistake - Simmons won’t be the last to go.
Jones is expected to evaluate the entire defensive staff with a critical eye. Some assistants might be retained for continuity, but the priority will be assembling a group that can execute his system with precision. After the kind of season Washington just endured, sentimentality won’t carry much weight.
This is about building a defense that can compete - one that doesn’t just survive, but actually gives the team a chance to win games.
So while Simmons’ exit might not make headlines the way a player trade or big-name hire would, it’s a signal that change is underway. And for a franchise looking to turn the page, that’s exactly what needs to happen.