JANUARY 26: Jones’ interview with the Bears will take place this weekend, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
JANUARY 23: Ben Johnson isn’t wasting any time looking to add to his staff. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears have requested an interview with Vikings coach Daronte Jones for their defensive coordinator vacancy.
After spending more than a decade in the college ranks, Jones got his first NFL gig with the Dolphins in 2015, when he worked as an assistant defensive backs coach. He later coached cornerbacks with the Bengals and defensive backs with the Vikings before being named defensive coordinator at LSU in 2021.
Jones only lasted one year at that stop. The coordinator wasn’t retained as part of Brian Kelly’s first staff in Baton Rouge, and he quickly caught on with the Vikings. After spending his first season in Minnesota as the defensive backs coach, Jones has spent the past two years serving as the Vikings defensive pass game coordinator.
As Rapoport notes, Jones has earned a reputation as a bright defensive mind, and he’s had time to hone his skills working under the likes of Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Marvin Lewis. The coach also has experience working alongside Johnson, as the duo were both on the Dolphins coaching staff between 2016 and 2017.
Rams defensive pass-game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant is the only other known candidate to potentially replace ousted DC Eric Washington in Chicago. The Bears (and Johnson) have been loosely connected to former Saints head coach Dennis Allen, and they were a rumored landing spot for former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo before he joined the Colts staff.
Not sure what the rules are for ‘upward’ opportunities, but inside the division? I wouldn’t allow it unless rules dictate you must.
The story states he’s is the Vikings defensive pass game coordinator and he is being interviewed for the Bears defensive coordinator vacancy. I believe that counts as ‘upward’.
I know that, but if the Bears had to make a request, that also seems to mean that the Vikings have the right to say “no”, hence my wondering on what the rules are in this situation.
That would depend on whether his contract was up. If his contract ended after last year the Vikings have absolutely nothing to say about it.
Oh, Says right in the article the Bears REQUESTED the interview so they must have said yes. Funny but I don’t remember that being there before. Sometimes they edit stuff later. Or it went right by me.
They might have requested it from the guy himself. He certainly has to consent to an interview.
A team can promote a player from a division rivals practice squad onto their own roster so why setup rules against coaching advancements? The NFL is already wallowing in enough hypocrisy to suit me.
Last time I checked this was America. If somebody offers you a better job for more money you take it. If you make fries at McDonalds and Burger King offers you a Managers job are you gonna say no? I doubt it.
Not everyone wants to make fries at McDonalds or manage a Burger King. This guy seemed perfectly content to be a Dairy Queen employee…link to youtube.com
Hey I did it when I was 14 and if it was good enough for me it’s good enough for anybody sir!
Unfortunately most kids that age today have no work ethic at all. They just want to sit on their butts playing video games all day.
I like Johnson’s hires so far. Randle El is an up and coming coach and so is Harris. In fact Harris almost got hired by the Bears before. Don’t know anything about the QB’s coach but I know the guy the Bears had last year was worthless. Keeping Hightower is also a good move and I’m glad Johnson didn’t just clean house because I think Hightower is good at his job. Waiting for the big hires but Johnson seems to know what he wants. I was really impressed by his press conference. He answers questions, Doesn’t beat around the bush and take a thousand words to say nothing like Eberlose did. So far so good as far as I’m concerned. Just hope I live long enough to see if it works.
I hope you live to see it too Unclemike
To me, its going to hinge on if the Oline and D lines are improved. Until that happens it does not really matter who the coaches are, most say and do the same things. I mean coaches can take a c level and maybe get him to a b level, and b level player and make him a B+ player, but ultimately you need the right guys for the system.
From the 9 am update, is Jones interviewing Johnson? That’s how it reads. Hey, why should I take this job!