It is not a surprise in Minnesota that Daronte Jones is now an NFL defensive coordinator, as the Washington Commanders hired him on Tuesday.
Alec Lewis covers the Vikings for The Athletic, and he told "Grant & Danny" on 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday, "I was pretty excited to see Daronte get this opportunity. I think everyone here who has observed him, talked to people about him, gotten to know him, believed that this was coming down the pike."
Jones has been in the NFL for a decade now, starting by coaching defensive backs for the Dolphins in the 2016-2017 seasons. From 2018-2019 in Cincinnati, and in 2020 with the Vikings, he continued coaching defensive backs. Becoming a defensive coordinator for LSU in 2021, he was not retained for the following season, as the Tigers fired then-head coach Ed Orgeron.
However, he was welcomed back to the Vikings to coach defensive backs (2022), and then he was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator, where he has served well the past three seasons 2023-2025).
Daronte Jones interviewed for muliple defensive coordinator positions, including the Saints last year. Alec Lewis tells us about the Saints executive who raved about Daronte Jones. pic.twitter.com/KULnOnimtl
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) January 27, 2026
Lewis told G&D how a Saints executive had been in on an interview of Jones for their defensive coordinator job following the 2024 season. Lewis was told that Jones had been impressive in the interview and that the New Orleans executive was certain Jones would soon get a DC job.
"He's a combination of what a lot of these teams and coaches are looking for on the defensive side of the ball," expressed Lewis. "His schematic background is pretty deep having spent time under Mike Zimmer, Lou Anarumo and Brian Flores."
"Coaches are looking for guys with very few yellow and red flags. And Daronte doesn't have any. So, it was just a matter of time."
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Vikings unsurprised by Daronte Jones hiring
