Vikings Coaching Staff Sees a Twist Added with Latest News
The Vikings coaching staff has already been depleted. Gone is safeties coach Michael Hutchings. Even worse — at least for Minnesota — is that DC Brian Flores is generating interest for a promotion.
The NFL interest doesn’t stop there, though.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter relays the news: “Jets have requested to interview Vikings passing game coordinator/DB coach Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator position. Jones is also slated to interview with the Cowboys for their DC position as well.”
Vikings Coaching Staff Could Lose Another Top Talent
In the NFL., success comes at a cost.
Lately, that success — albeit modest since the Vikings finished the season at 9-8 and outside of the playoffs — has resulted in discussions about the 2026 NFL Draft and the 2026 schedule. Minnesota owns the No. 18 selection, lower than many hoped while the team sat at 4-8. And then finishing third in the NFC North means playing a tougher schedule next year.
While the Vikings as a whole weren’t the cream of the crop within the NFL, the defense was pretty darn good. Based on points allowed, the Vikings came in at seventh.
Generating plenty of headlines was Minnesota’s league-leading blitzing. The team sent an extra player(s) 44.3% of the time (PFR), representing the only team in the NFL to clear 40%. Being able to do so requires having sturdy coverage on the back end.
After all, a blitz is a classic scenario of “stealing from Peter to pay for Paul.” Telling one defender to fly forward means removing one defender who can drop back into coverage. In fact, a basic coaching point for quarterbacks is to throw into a blitzing defender’s zone. If, for instance, Harrison Smith comes forward at the snap, then another defender needs to fill Smith’s zone. The savvy QB understands as much, exploiting that vulnerability.
So, strong coverage is needed to blitz well lest one get torched. Daronte Jones will understand this reality as well — or better — than anyone.
When it comes to passing yards allowed, the Vikings finished off at second-best in the NFL with 2,694 across the full season. Note that the team climbed to that level while carrying just four corners for most of the season. Plus, the defensive front experienced plenty of injuries, further stressing the secondary.
Daronte Jones worked with the defensive backs while also possessing the title of being the Passing Game Coordinator. The team website clarifies some of his coaching background: “Prior to joining the Vikings for a second stint with the team in 2022, Jones spent one season with LSU in 2021. He originally entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Miami Dolphins as assistant defensive backs coach (2016-17) and spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals as secondary/cornerbacks coach for two seasons (2018-19).”
Further: “During his first season as the Vikings defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, Jones helped the defense improve from their 31st overall ranking in 2022 to 16th in 2023, and lead the NFL with 21 forced, with defensive backs accounting for 14.”
Seeing Coach Jones depart for a defensive coordinator gig wouldn’t be shocking. He has worked under one of the most impressive ones in the NFL and has some experience at the college level. In other words, Coach Jones appears ready to make the jump.
Another sneaky development could arise if Coach Flores does indeed earn a top job. If so, might Brian Flores look to bring Daronte Jones over with him? Baltimore’s coaching staff would need a defensive coordinator even if Flores is leaning toward remaining the playcaller while being the top coach.
And then there’s another angle that Kevin Seifert of ESPN highlights: missing out on an in-house replacement for Flores.
The thought from Seifert: “Daronte Jones would be on a very short list to replace Brian Flores as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, if Flores departs.” Something to consider, to be sure. Rallying around a strong coach from within Minnesota’s staff would help to offset the loss of continuity since Coach Jones understands the scheme, vocabulary, and so on.
The offseason is just getting started and already the intrigue is high around the Vikings. Never a dull moment with this franchise. Much remains to be determined.
We’ll learn in the coming days if Daronte Jones gets promoted to being a DC. He has earned the chance.
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