The Cowboys may have to battle multiple NFL teams over ’emerging star’ that could change the face of the defense

This Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator candidate is being sought out around the league.

Mauricio Rodriguez, Tyler Forness
Add as preferred source on Google
Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

If we go by in-person interviews, then the Dallas Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator is down to three known finalists.

Daronte Jones (Minnesota Vikings pass game coordinator, Christian Parker (Philadelphia Eagles pass game coordinator), and Jonathan Gannon (former Arizona Cardinals head coach) have either interviewed in-person or are scheduled to—with one more candidate, Denver Broncos pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard, still competing in the NFL Playoffs.

How those interviews go will go a long way in shaping the Cowboys’ decision, but so will the rest of the NFL. After all, these are heavily sought-out coaches around the league, and Daronte Jones from the Vikings is no exception. That matters considering Jones seems to be a very strong candidate for the Cowboys.

According to Nick Harris from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jones “impressed some people in the building,” and added “he’s been the surprise of the search so far.”

But if the Cowboys want to land Jones, based on the level of interest he’s getting, they might need to gear themselves up for a bidding war.

Jones drawing interest around the NFL

Jones has been one of the biggest names in the league when it comes to defensive coordinator openings. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the teams that have requested to interview Jones for a DC position include:

  • Green Bay Packers
  • New York Giants
  • New York Jets (interviewed in-person)
  • Dallas Cowboys (interviewed in-person)

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jones pop up in more defensive coordinator searches in the coming weeks as the NFL’s head coaching vacancies begin to fill up.

Jones is an ’emerging star’

To figure out why Jones has generated so much buzz around the league, I reached out to our very own Vikings expert at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness.

Forness: “The Vikings have an emerging star on their defensive staff in passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Daronte Jones. He joined Mike Zimmer’s staff in 2020 before taking the LSU Tigers offensive coordinator job in 2021. When that didn’t work, he returned to the Vikings to work for Kevin O’Connell. He served under Ed Donatell and was retained by Brian Flores. Internally, the Vikings would love to retain Jones, and he’s arguably the top candidate to replace Flores if he gets a head coaching job.

“What the Cowboys can expect is a well liked coach who has a diverse history under his belt. It’s hard to say what kind of defense he will bring to the Cowboys if he gets the job, but the one thing for certain is he will cater it to the players the Cowboys have.”

Jones fits very well with what head coach Brian Schottenheimer seems to be looking for in his next defensive coordinator: A young coach with fresh ideas that can reinvigorate the Cowboys defense. At 47 years old, Jones’ scheme may be unproven, but his foundations are strong as Forness points out above.

Related Articles