The Commanders finally have their defensive coordinator, reportedly finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones to the post.
Jones, 47, is a DMV guy: from Capitol Heights, played high school ball at Bishop McNamara, and college ball at Morgan State. He comes from Minnesota, having spent four years on the staff there as defensive backs coach (as well as passing game coordinator for the last three).
Prior to that, Jones was the defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021, and has coaching experience in the high school ranks, the college game, the CFL, and three NFL stops – including a stint as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Bowie State from 2005-09.
Jones has also spent his NFL coaching career under some of the premier defensive minds in the modern game: Brian Flores has been his DC in Minnesota, while Mike Zimmer was his head coach in his first year there in 2020, and he also worked in Cincinnati under then-head coach Marvin Lewis and Miami under then-DC Vance Joseph.
He also coordinated a 2021 LSU defense that featured nearly a dozen future pros, including two-time All=Pro Texans corner Derek Stingley Jr. and Giants DB Cor’Dale Flott in the secondary.
Jones of course replaces Joe Whitt Jr., who lost his play-calling duties mid-season and was officially dismissed on Jan. 6 after the Commanders’ defense finished last in yards allowed and 27th in points allowed.