Who determined Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needed help on his defensive staff?
Much was made of the fact that head coach Dan Quinn determined last January to hire not one but two first-time NFL coordinators. It was common sense that this could be a risk for Dan Quinn’s job security, a big risk. Yet he hired Daronte Jones (defense) and David Blough (offense), both with no previous experience as an NFL coordinator.
Sure enough, six games into the 2026 season, and the heat is on Dan Quinn. The Commanders say this happened a month ago, and Wilks is just now getting settled into his new role, which began last week following the embarrassing tie with the Giants.
The Commanders have hired multi-time former defensive coordinator and ex-Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks. Wilks apparently will not be working with defensive players, will not be out on the field during practices, nor will he be with the team during games. Wilks is going to be interacting with Jones, studying and interpreting film. So Wilks has been hired as a part-time consultant to assist Jones with his defense.
The #Commanders have hired Steve Wilks to work with the defensive coaches under Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones, per me and @RapSheet. The decision to hire Wilks was made last month. He started last week.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 21, 2026
Wilks will help with game planning. He won't be with the team on game days. pic.twitter.com/IQAjVQZPKb
The truth is, Jones’ defense is better than Joe Whitt’s last year. But then again, with many changes in the personnel, shouldn’t it be? Secondly, Jones defense is still quite below average, giving up the sixth-highest amount of yards in the NFL through six weeks of games. When it comes to yards per play, the Commanders are way down at 24th, surrendering 5.6 yards per play.
So the help is certainly warranted. Wilks apparently was in town a week before the team announced the move. There has been no real explanation of why a staff that possesses Quinn, a former DC and HC, and Ken Norton, a two-time former DC, would need Wilks to consult them. The pass defense is 22nd, surrendering 6.6 yards per pass attempt. Defending the rush, the Commanders are 14th giving up 4.0 yards per rush.
So, yes, any help that Wilks can bring Jones is welcome. Being in his first year as the defensive coordinator, his defense surrendered big plays entirely too much in the first two games against the Eagles and Cowboys. In game four, the Commanders’ defense in the second half simply had no answers for the Colts’ running game, though quarterback Daniel Jones was visibly struggling passing.
Perhaps a question that needs to be raised is general manager Adam Peters’ role in this. Did he play any role, or did this come only from Dan Quinn? Wilks was a head coach in Arizona in 2018, but the Cardinals went only 3-13. Wilks was also an interim HC in 2022 with Carolina going 6-6. Wilks and Peters were both in San Francisco with the 49ers in 2023. So, there is that. Not pushing or reporting that Peters was behind this. He could have been; he just as easily might not have been.
If this decision was made a month ago, then the final straw was not when the defense helped the Commanders blow a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in the 27-27 tie with the Giants?
Wilks has been an NFL defensive coordinator in 2017 under Ron Rivera in Carolina, in 2019 (Browns), 2023 (49ers), and 2025 (Jets). He was fired after one season as coordinator in both of his last two coordinator jobs.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Why did Commanders hire Steve Wilks as defensive consultant?