Daronte Jones' journey from Morgan State to Washington Commanders

New defensive coordinator's path from college player to NFL coach

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:31pm

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Daronte Jones, known by his nickname 'Crow' from his playing days as a safety at Morgan State University from 1997 to 2000, has been named the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. Jones' former teammates are unsure of the origin of his nickname, but they fondly remember his time at Morgan State.

Why it matters

Jones' appointment as defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders represents an impressive career progression from his college playing days. His journey highlights the potential for players to transition into successful coaching careers at the professional level.

The details

Jones, who played safety at Morgan State from 1997 to 2000, is better known by his nickname 'Crow' among his former teammates. However, there is some confusion over the origin of the nickname, with his teammates stating, "Everybody was like, 'What? What's that?'" Jones has now been named the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, marking an impressive career progression from his college playing days.

  • Daronte Jones played safety at Morgan State University from 1997 to 2000.
  • Jones was recently named the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.

The players

Daronte Jones

New defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, known by the nickname 'Crow' from his playing days as a safety at Morgan State University from 1997 to 2000.

Morgan State University

The college where Daronte Jones played safety from 1997 to 2000.

Washington Commanders

The NFL team that has hired Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator.

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The takeaway

Daronte Jones' journey from a college player at Morgan State to becoming the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders demonstrates the potential for players to transition into successful coaching careers at the professional level, highlighting the value of diverse experiences and perspectives in the sport.