The Washington Commanders are set to hire Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator, a critical move to overhaul one of the NFL’s worst units and define the next era of the franchise.
In a move that signals a clear mandate for change, the Washington Commanders are finalizing a deal to hire Daronte Jones as their next defensive coordinator. The hire, which comes just weeks after the firing of Joe Whitt Jr., aims to address the most glaring weakness on a roster that went from NFC championship contender to one of the league’s worst teams in a single season.
Jones, 47, is currently the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. His career path includes a one-year stint as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021, where he gained valuable play-calling experience before returning to Minnesota to help solidify one of the NFL’s top secondary units. Field Level Media first reported the impending hire.
The need for this move cannot be overstated. Under Whitt’s two-year tenure, the Commanders’ defense collapsed. This past season, they finished last in the NFL in total defense, allowing a staggering 384.3 yards per game. They were also 28th in the league against the pass, surrendering 242.5 yards per contest. This defensive regression was a primary reason the team’s record plummeted from 12-5 in 2024 to a dismal 5-12 in 2025.
The numbers tell a story of a unit in freefall. Washington gave up 451 total points this season, a shocking 60 more than the previous year when they were a top-tier defense en route to the NFC Championship Game. This dramatic fall from grace made finding a new defensive coordinator the single most important offseason task for head coach Dan Quinn.
So, why Daronte Jones? The hire suggests Quinn and the front office are targeting a specific profile: a modern, aggressive defensive mind with a proven ability to develop talent in the secondary. Jones’s work in Minnesota has been instrumental in developing players like Camryn Bynum and Andrew Booth Jr., turning them into reliable starters. For a Commanders secondary that was often torched in 2025, this developmental skill is seen as essential.
Furthermore, Jones’s experience as a play-caller at LSU provides him with the credentials to take full control of the defense, a role Whitt was unable to fulfill successfully. His addition signals a shift away from the previous defensive philosophy toward a more dynamic, scheme-versatile approach designed to create pressure and disrupt opposing offenses.
For the fanbase, this move is about more than just X’s and O’s. It’s about reversing the momentum of a franchise that appeared to be on the rise. The 2025 season was a profound disappointment, and the defensive struggles were a major source of frustration. Hiring Jones is a direct response to that failure. It’s a statement that the team’s leadership recognizes the problem and is taking decisive action to fix it. The hope is that Jones can not only scheme a better defense but also instill a culture of accountability and physicality that was missing last season.
The Commanders’ 2026 season will be defined by how quickly this new defensive identity can be built. With a new quarterback and now a new defensive coordinator, Washington is undergoing a significant rebuild. The hiring of Daronte Jones is the first, and perhaps most critical, step in that process. All eyes will now be on how he transforms a defense from a liability into a strength.
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