Vikings Defensive Coach Could Depart After All

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities.

Simply when it appeared the Minnesota Vikings’ teaching carousel had stopped turning, the New Orleans Saints requested for yet another spin.

Vikings Defensive Coach Could Depart After All

That group employed Kellen Moore this week as its subsequent head coach after Moore efficiently offensively coordinated the Philadelphia Eagles to a Tremendous Bowl win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures.

And Moore would possibly pluck a Vikings coach to run his protection in New Orleans: defensive passing recreation coordinator Daronte Jones.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Thursday, “The Saints have requested to interview Vikings pass-game coordinator/DBs Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator position, per sources. Jones has been heavy on the DC interview circuit this cycle.”

One Vikings coach, Grant Udinski, has already left the crew this offseason, accepting an offensive coordinator job with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Liam Coen’s new workers. Jones to the Saints would make it two departures for Minnesota.

Stephen Lew-Imagn Pictures.

Jones, an obvious up-and-comer for a DC gig, has spoken with the Chicago Bears and Jaguars this cycle a couple of promotion, however these golf equipment employed different choices. So, Jones will both seize the Saints’ open place or return to Minnesota, a choice that must be introduced subsequent week.

Vikings coaches Brian Flores (defensive coordinator) and Josh McCown (quarterbacks coach) additionally interviewed elsewhere however didn’t fetch promotions and can return to the Twin Cities for 2025.

Minnesota defensive passing recreation coordinator Daronte Jones. Image taken at Louisiana State College on April 1st, 2021. Jones coached on Mike Zimmer’s Vikings workers in 2020, went to LSU as defensive coordinator, and ended up with the Vikings once more in 2022 beneath head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Taking cost of the Saints’ protection can be fairly the promotion for Jones after a handful of jobs within the NFL and a high-profile gig as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021. Right here’s Jones’ resume for the reason that begin 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 cross recreation coordinator (2023-)

Jones was nominated as defensive coordinator on the Senior Bowl in 2024, serving to him acquire nationwide publicity on a visual stage. The maneuver labored. Reality be informed, he’s most likely due for a promotion. Some even speculated that he might take over because the Vikings’ defensive coordinator if the aforementioned Flores accepted a head teaching job elsewhere.

Ought to the Saints rent Jones, he’ll inherit the NFL’s Nineteenth-best protection per EPA/Play. 

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports activities.

It’s value noting that Jones coached the LSU Tigers’ protection in 2021, so he might have a geographical connection.

Jones will flip 47 within the fall.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL. 

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