Vikings Coach Could Be Stolen by Bears
One year ago, Minnesota Vikings defensive passing game coordinator Daronte Jones came close to departing the organization for the New York Giants,
Vikings Coach Could Be Stolen by Bears
The Giants later hired Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator, and Jones returned to the Vikings. His club finished 14-3 in 2024 before collapsing in the season’s final two games.
Fast forward to 2025, and Jones is again in the defensive coordinator carousel mix, possibly on deck to join the Chicago Bears, one of Minnesota’s top rivals. NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted Thursday, “The Bears have requested to interview passing game coordinator/DBs coach Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator position, source said. Jones is highly respected having worked with defensive minds such as Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Marvin Lewis, among others.”
To date, Vikings coaches Brian Flores (defensive coordinator), Josh McCown (quarterbacks coach), and Grant Udinski (assistant quarterbacks coach) have interviewed elsewhere, but none have skedaddled.
Jones makes it four Vikings coaches coveted this offseason, with one executive, Ryan Grigson, who was interviewed by the New York Jets for their general manager post.
Taking charge of the Bears’ defense would be quite the promotion for Jones after a handful of jobs in the NFL and a high-profile gig as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. Here’s Jones’ resume since the start of 2015:
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-present)
Defensive backs coach (2022)
Defensive pass game coordinator (2023-)
If Jones earns the job, he will become the Vikings’ first notable offseason coaching departure, though Udinski, for example, could still earn an OC gig with the Seattle Seahawks.
Jones was nominated as defensive coordinator at the Senior Bowl in 2024, helping him gain national exposure on a visible stage. The maneuver worked. Truth be told, he’s probably due for a promotion. Some even speculated that he could take over as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator if the aforementioned Flores accepted a head coaching job elsewhere.
Should the Bears hire Jones, he’ll inherit the NFL’s 13th-best defense per EPA/Play. He’d also start from a place of strength by showcasing players like Jaylon Johnson (CB), T.J. Edwards (LB), Keith Byard (S), and Montez Sweat (DE).
Chicago cleaned house in 2024, firing head coach Matt Eberflus after a brutal Thanksgiving gaffe against the Lions and hiring Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, the most sought-after commodity this offseason.
Jones will turn 47 next fall.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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