The Washington Commanders are finalizing a deal to rent Daronte Jones of the Minnesota Vikings as their subsequent defensive coordinator, a supply instructed ESPN on Monday.
Jones will take over for Joe Whitt, who was fired earlier this month after two seasons with Washington. The Commanders may have two inexperienced coordinators in 2026 after changing Kliff Kingsbury with David Blough on offense shortly after the season ended.
The Commanders completed 5-12, one yr after going 12-5 en path to a spot within the NFC Championship Sport.
Jones had interviewed with 5 groups throughout this hiring cycle, and a supply with one crew referred to as his interview “spectacular.” One one that has coached with Jones mentioned final week that it was “only a matter of time” earlier than he landed a defensive coordinator’s job.
Jones has coached within the NFL since 2016, apart from one yr as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He joined the Vikings’ teaching workers in 2022, working with the defensive backs. He was named Minnesota’s move sport coordinator a yr later and remained in that position by means of this season.
Washington coach Dan Quinn had sought an skilled coordinator and interviewed a number of who match that description: Jonathan Gannon, Teryl Austin, Brian Flores, Joe Cullen, Dennard Wilson and Patrick Graham.
Jones referred to as performs whereas with LSU. He additionally labored underneath Flores in addition to notable defensive coaches akin to Mike Zimmer, Vance Joseph and Marvin Lewis.
Jones was born in suburban Washington, D.C., and performed his faculty ball at close by Morgan State. He coached in faculty from 2001 to 2016 — with a two-year cease as a highschool coach and one yr within the Canadian Soccer League.
Washington’s protection wanted an overhaul. The Commanders ranked twenty seventh in scoring and final in yards this previous season. Quinn took over the playcalling duties from Whitt getting into the Week 11 sport in opposition to Miami. Washington had surrendered 34 or extra factors in 4 of its earlier seven video games earlier than that transfer.
The Commanders are anticipated to emphasise discovering younger defensive expertise this offseason, whether or not in free company or the draft, the place they personal the seventh choose.
