Now that the New York Giants have their head coach in place in John Harbaugh, the next step is assembling a coaching staff that will help this team instantly compete. Todd Monken is expected to follow Harbaugh to New York as the new offensive coordinator, but the team's defensive coordinator opening comes with more questions.
The Giants have started to be linked to some familiar candidates, but the search for a new defensive coordinator is only beginning. They have yet to conduct any interviews, until now, as they requested to interview Vikings passing game coordinator and DB coach Daronte Jones for the position, per ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
However, they'll have competition to land Jones, as he has already interviewed with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys for DC openings. And the Vikings could want him back as their new defensive play-caller, especially if current DC Brian Flores leaves Minnesota to take another job.
Daronte Jones isn't a household name, but he would be a great DC candidate for the New York Giants
The 47-year-old has spent the last four seasons in Minnesota, including the last three as defensive pass game coordinator. He's emerged as one of Flores' top lieutenants while rising through the coaching ranks to the point where it would be a surprise if he wasn't helming a defense in 2026.
Jones is a former college cornerback with a wealth of high-level coaching experience in the secondary. He was the defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021 and has coached defensive backs with UCLA football, the Dolphins, and Bengals, in addition to his time with coaching with the Vikings.
Jones has also become Flores's right-hand man and his potential successor if he lands a head coaching job, as he was promoted when the Vikings hired him as DC in 2023. He's arguably his top assistant, and there's a chance he follows him to his next destination if he becomes a head coach.
Something worth noting is that, despite not overlapping with John Harbaugh, Jones has some connections to Joe Schoen. He was an assistant DB coach in Miami for two seasons while Schoen was in the front office, and also interviewed for Big Blue's DC job when they hired Shane Bowen.
He has other interviews lined up, but it would be surprising if Harbaugh chose him over a DC he's coached with previously, like Anthony Weaver or Dennard Wilson. The Super Bowl-winning head coach wants a DC who will demand accountability, and Jones will do that after years under Flores.