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john keem
Washington Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones minnesota vikings as their next defensive coordinator, a source told ESPN on Monday.
Jones replaces Joe Whitt, who was fired earlier this month after two seasons with Washington. The Commanders will have two inexperienced coordinators in 2026 after replacing Kliff Kingsbury with David Blough shortly after the season ended.
A year after going 12–5 en route to a berth in the NFC Championship Game, the Commanders finished 5–12.
Jones interviewed with five teams during this recruiting cycle, and a source from one team called his interviews “impressive”. A man who coached with Jones said last week that it was “just a matter of time” before he got the defensive coordinator job.
Jones has coached in the NFL since 2016, except for one year as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He joined the Vikings’ coaching staff in 2022, working with the defensive backs. A year later he was named Minnesota’s pass game coordinator and remained in that role until this season.
Washington coach Dan Quinn was looking for an experienced coordinator and interviewed several guys who fit that description: Jonathan Gannon, Teryl Austin, Brian Flores, Joe Cullen, Denard Wilson and Patrick Graham.
Jones called plays while with LSU. He also worked under Flores as well as notable defensive coaches such as Mike Zimmer, Vance Joseph and Marvin Lewis.
Jones was born in suburban Washington, DC, and played his college ball at nearby Morgan State. He coached in college from 2001 to 2016 – as a high school coach for two years and in the Canadian Football League for one year.
Washington’s defense required extensive changes. Last season the Commanders were 27th in scoring and last in yards passing. Quinn took over playcalling duties from Whitt entering the Week 11 game against Miami. Washington had surrendered 34 or more points in four of its previous seven games before that move.
The Commanders are expected to place an emphasis on finding young defensive talent this offseason, whether in free agency or the draft, where they have the seventh pick.
