The Vikings’ defensive staff is suddenly at the center of the league’s coaching carousel, and it’s no longer just about defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Multiple reports indicate the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys have requested interviews with Minnesota defensive backs coach
Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator vacancies, putting a key member of the Vikings’ defensive leadership in the spotlight.
Jones has served as Minnesota’s defensive backs coach since returning in 2022 and has also carried the title of defensive pass game coordinator in recent seasons. With Flores’ future drawing heavy attention, Jones has been viewed by many as a top internal name if the Vikings ever needed continuity on that side of the ball.
But the stunning development is what comes next: people around the situation say Jones isn’t treating outside interest as an escape hatch. Despite the pull of rival offers—and the implied promise of a bigger title, a bigger paycheck, and immediate control of a defense—Jones is framing the moment as a choice about identity, not opportunity.
In a message reflecting his stance, he made his reasoning unmistakable: “Receiving interest from such big organizations is a huge honor, but my heart belongs to Minnesota. We’re building something truly special here, and I’m not walking away just for a bigger title or a paycheck. I refused to leave because I believe in this culture, and my loyalty to the purple runs deeper than any promotion.”
The quote spread quickly among fans, because it sounded like something increasingly rare in today’s NFL—commitment without conditions.
That loyalty hits harder when you trace Jones’ route to this point. He first joined the Vikings in 2020, left to become LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021, then returned to Minnesota in 2022—an uncommon loop that signals preference, not convenience.
His coaching journey dates back to 2001 and has spanned everything from Louisiana high school football to the CFL, plus NFL stops with the Dolphins (2016–17) and Bengals (2018–19) before his first stint in Minnesota. Around the building, the belief is that Jones sees Minnesota as unfinished business—and that the culture he’s helped shape matters more than the next rung on the ladder.
In a week dominated by interviews and leverage, his message landed like a vow.
Under Jones’ guidance in 2025, Minnesota finished as a top-three unit in total defense (282.6 yards allowed per game) and ranked second in passing defense (158.5 pass yards allowed, 15 pass TDs). The Vikings also held opponents to 19.6 points per game and produced a pick-six among eight interceptions.
