Jan. 27, 2026, 2:00 a.m. ET

The Washington Commanders finally hired a defensive coordinator on Monday night, agreeing to terms with Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Daronte Jones. Jones comes to Washington after spending the past four seasons with the Vikings.

This ends a three-week search for Washington, which fired Joe Whitt Jr. on January 6. Jones was the ninth and final interview Washington conducted for its defensive coordinator position, and the Commanders moved quickly to lock him up after speaking with him.

Jones, 47, brings nine years of NFL experience to Washington. In addition to his time with Minnesota, Jones also spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

Here are seven things to know about the Commanders’ new defensive coordinator:

He’s from the DMV

Jones was born in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and played high school football at Bishop McNamara in Forestville. He grew up in Prince George’s County, around 10 miles away from Northwest Stadium. After beginning his college football career at Temple, Jones returned to Maryland, where he played cornerback for two seasons at Morgan State in Baltimore. Unfortunately, his playing career ended after his second year at Morgan State due to repeated injuries that caused nerve damage.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.Coached under some top defensive minds

Jones spent the past three seasons working under Brian Flores. Many consider Flores the NFL’s best defensive coordinator, and Jones was a significant part of his staff. But before working with Flores, Jones has spent time learning under other top defensive minds.

In 2016, Jones was the assistant defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins, working under then-defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Joseph, who led Denver’s No. 1 defense in 2025, like Flores, is one of the NFL’s best defensive coordinators. In 2018, Jones served as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive backs coach under head coach Marvin Lewis. In 2020, the Vikings first hired Jones as defensive backs coach before leaving after one season and returning in 2022. During that first year in Minnesota, Jones worked under head coach Mike Zimmer. It was in 2023 when he began working under Flores.

Lewis and Zimmer were two of the top defensive minds of the 2000s. Jones has worked under some top defensive coaches all of whom have one thing in common: they play an aggressive style of defense.

He’s been a defensive coordinator before

We mentioned how Jones left Minnesota after the 2020 season. That was because Ed Orgeron hired him to be LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. Unfortunately, Jones never had a chance to succeed there because Orgeron was fired midway through the season. Jones did not return in 2022, instead returning to Minnesota under new head coach Kevin O’Connell. While Jones didn’t achieve the results he would’ve liked, it was a learning experience that prepared him for this opportunity.

Vikings achieved results under Flores/Jones

While Flores receives much of the credit, and rightfully so, don’t discredit Jones’s work with the secondary. Let’s look at some of these defensive numbers from 2024, courtesy of Minnesota’s website:

Led NFL in interceptions (24)Led NFL in passes defensed (95)Opponent 4th-down conversion percentage (37.1%)Interceptions per attempt (3.8%)Tied for league lead in takeaways (33)Second in the NFL in run defense (93.5)Second in the NFL in opponent scoring efficiency (31.6%)Jones is all about forcing turnovers

Commanders’ fans are probably tired of hearing about “ball is life.” That’s what former defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. would say. Only, Washington didn’t do a good job of forcing turnovers in either of his two seasons. Jones talks about forcing turnovers, but he also practices it. Check out Jones here teaching:

Jones talks about turnovers, but he also gets results. The Commanders need an aggressive mindset on defense. Jones brings that.

Jones’ impact on Vikings legend Harrison Smith

Harrison Smith is a 14-year NFL veteran and perhaps a future Hall of Famer. The former first-round pick has spent his entire career in Minnesota and remains a solid player. He first began playing for Jones in 2020, and the coach’s impact on Smith has helped him continue playing at a high level.

“Our bodies don’t move like they used to the older we get. So then, what becomes your advantage? The things that were great for you before may not be great for you now, so how do you adjust your game?” Jones said, via Lindsey Young of Vikings.com. “And I think Harrison’s done a phenomenal job at adjusting his game, becoming more cerebral. He may be a little step slower than what he used to be, but his mind is two steps faster. So it balances out.”

Not only is Jones a teacher, but he is also a motivator and can reach younger and older players.

Jones slept in his car early in his coaching career

Every coach has their own journey. Some are fortunate enough to be born into it. Others are not. Jones didn’t play in the NFL. He didn’t have a famous father or uncle to help him land a top job in his early 30s. He scratched and clawed for every opportunity. He worked at small colleges and high schools before moving his way up and eventually landing in the NFL.

Jones told a story last year about sleeping in his car at one point during his coaching career. It was at this time that he asked himself if he really wanted this coaching life. He battled through it and continued to climb the ranks.

Then, later, when he was at UCLA, he slept on an air mattress in his office.