Daronte Jones' journey to Washington Commanders defensive coordinator was defined by extreme sacrifice. In March 2002, Jones slept in his red 1988 Honda Prelude as 50 mph Chicago winds rocked the car, calling his aunt in fear. He endured two months in his vehicle before continuing his climb. Over the next decade, Jones slept in cornerbacks' meeting rooms at UCLA, his office at University of Hawaii, and even an alumnus' pool house. Throughout this nomadic existence, his pet python, Goldie Gambino, lived safely in his book bag. He also coached high school and nearly left the profession, attending law school and applying to the U.S. Capitol Police. These hardships forged his resilience. "It was like, 'Is it ever going to end?'" Jones recalled. "I was like, 'Maybe it's not for me.'" The breakthroughs eventually led him to Washington, where he inherits one of the NFL's worst defenses. Jones views his unconventional path as assets. "It's very easy to see when someone has been through it," safety Jeremy Reaves noted. "He went the route not a lot of people go for." His background provides the patience and humility needed to rebuild a unit that struggled last season.

BEFORE ARRIVING IN Washington, Jones had held 14 different jobs during his coaching career, from Division II to Division I-AA, high school, the Canadian Football League to multiple Division I stops and stints with three NFL teams.

Key figures: Daronte Jones, John Keim, Lisa Simmons, Jeremy Reaves. Key locations: Ashburn, Va., Chicago, Maryland, North Park University, UCLA, University of Hawaii.