It’s been a busy offseason for Minnesota Vikings assistant coaches on defense. Brian Flores took a tour around the league and interviewed for multiple jobs, including both head coach and defensive coordinator openings, before signing an extension and ultimately returning for 2026.
Meanwhile, MN Vikings defensive pass game coordinator, Daronte Jones, has met with multiple teams who have shown interest in hiring the 47-year-old as a defensive coordinator, in this cycle.
Daronte Jones hired by Washington Commanders
On Monday, however, the end of Jones’ ride on the 2026 NFL coaching carousel ended in a much different way than Flores, when he was announced as the Washington Commanders new defensive coordinator.
Source: Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Vikings defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones as their defensive coordinator.
Jones has been one of Brian Flores’ most trusted defensive coaches the past three seasons, and he also has coached… pic.twitter.com/SZKKFocpgO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2026
Jones history with Vikings is interesting
Daronte Jones’ time with the Vikings actually predates his former defensive coordinator in Minnesota. Hired as the defensive backs coach in 2020, by Mike Zimmer, Jones came to the Vikings via the Cincinnati Bengals, just like Zim.
One season — in what was a dysfunctional Vikings organization at that point, under the leadership of Rick Spielman and Zimmer, who stopped talking the same offseason he was hired — was enough for Daronte Jones.
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
In 2021, Jones left to be defensive coordinator at LSU for one season. When Kevin O’Connell was hired as head coach in 2022, Jones was re-hired as defensive backs coach, a title he held for just one season, yet again, under one-and-done defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.
When Brian Flores arrived in 2023, the MN Vikings retained Jones as their defensive pass game coordinator, a position he has held for the past two seasons (2024-2025).
Daronte Jones before the Minnesota Vikings
Prior to his time in Cincinnati (2018-2019), Daronte Jones got his first NFL coaching opportunity the Dolphins’ assistant DB coach for two seasons from 2016-2017.
Before arriving on the NFL scene, Daronte Jones’ list of collegiate stops (per Wikipedia) is quite long.
Lenoir–Rhyne (2001) — Graduate assistant
Nicholls State (2002) — Safeties coach
Franklin HS (LA) (2003) — Defensive Coordinator
Jeanerette HS (LA) (2004) — Defensive Coordinator
Bowie State (2005–2009) — Assistant head coach & defensive Coordinator
UCLA (2010) — Cornerbacks coach
Montreal Alouettes (2011) — Defensive backs coach
Hawaii (2012–2013) — Secondary coach
Hawaii (2014) — Assistant head coach & secondary coach
Wisconsin (2015) — Defensive backs coach
Miami Dolphins (2016–2017) — Assistant defensive backs coach
Cincinnati Bengals (2018–2019) — Cornerbacks coach
Minnesota Vikings (2020) — Defensive backs coach
LSU (2021) — Defensive coordinator
Minnesota Vikings (2022) — Defensive backs coach
Minnesota Vikings (2023–present) Defensive pass game coordinator
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