The Washington Commanders are hiring Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday night.
The 47-year-old replaces Joe Whitt Jr., who was dismissed earlier this offseason along with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury following a disappointing 2025 campaign. Head coach Dan Quinn has since promoted assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough to offensive coordinator and now turns to Jones to oversee a defense coming off a rough season.
Whitt surrendered play-calling duties to Quinn midway through 2025, a season that unraveled quickly for Washington. After reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024 behind a Jayden Daniels-led offense, the Commanders stumbled to a 5-12 finish last year. The defense collapsed, ranking last in the NFL in yards allowed and 27th in points surrendered.
That regression came after a solid 2024 showing, when Washington finished 13th in yards allowed and 18th in scoring defense during Quinn’s first season at the helm. The contrast underscored the need for a reset on the defensive side of the ball.
Jones brings a varied resume to the role. He previously coached with the Miami Dolphins (2016–17) and Cincinnati Bengals (2018–19) before joining the Vikings in 2020. He spent the 2021 season as LSU’s defensive coordinator, then returned to Minnesota, working the past three years under Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
It remains unclear whether Quinn will retain play-calling duties or hand them fully to Jones, but Washington now has both coordinator positions filled by first-time NFL coordinators as it looks to rebound from a disastrous 2025 and regain its footing as a contender.
