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Vance Joseph ‘will be hired by the Denver Broncos as the team’s new defensive coordinator’ … five seasons after being fired as the NFL franchise’s head coach.
The Denver Broncos are reportedly set to rehire their former football coach Vance Joseph to be the team’s new defensive coordinator under Sean Payton, five seasons after leaving the NFL franchise.
The 50-year-old’s return to Denver hangs in the balance after an interview at the team’s suburban compound on Feb. 17, reports ESPN. Joseph was the head coach of the Broncos in 2017 and 2018.
He was fired after two dismal seasons (5-11 and 6-10) that resulted in the team missing the playoffs for the third straight time after winning Super Bowl 50. Joseph spent the last four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. .
The former cornerback’s likely hiring might surprise some who believed former NFL head coach Rex Ryan was the closest to landing the coaching job.
He was interviewed twice by the Broncos and was reported to be the “best candidate” for the job.
Former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to return to Denver as new defensive coordinator
Former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Rex Ryan was reportedly a “top candidate” for the job.
Joseph also interviewed remotely with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday for his defensive coordinator position and was reportedly scheduled to interview with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie on Thursday.
Seattle Seahawks associate head coach Sean Desai and current Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker were also vying for the defensive coordinator job.
Former Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer also spoke with team executives, albeit for an “unspecified role,” according to ESPN.
The Broncos’ defensive coordinator from last season, Ejiro Evero, also talked to Payton about the start, but he opted to take a similar opportunity with the Carolina Panthers.
Under Evero, Denver had the league’s worst scoring defense through the middle of the season, before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams in a span of three weeks.
By the time the postseason rolled around, the Broncos were tied for 13th in scoring defense (21.1 points per game), 7th in total defense, 2nd in third down, and 7th in the red zone.
What’s more, the team gave up its first-round pick, 29th overall, in the upcoming draft to the New Orleans Saints to hire Payton as their new head coach on a five-year deal worth about of $18 million per year.
The new Broncos head coach went 161-97, including the playoffs, in 15 seasons in New Orleans before stepping down last year when Drew Brees retired.
The team’s former defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, left his position to take a similar one with the Panthers.
Joseph was the head coach of the Broncos from 2017 to 2018, but was fired after failing to make the postseason.
He took charge of a dying Saints team that had gone 3-13 in 2005 and led them to a 10-6 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance in his first season with the Saints.
As for whether a similar change can be expected in Denver, Payton said, “I think it’s realistic that our fan base would expect a completely different type of culture.” And I think it’s realistic that they expect us to win.’
To what extent, who knows?
“I know this: the work has begun,” Payton said.
‘I use this term, you know, anonymous donors a little bit more this season. I only know that we are working. But a little less visibility on social media and all that other stuff. Let’s get down to work. And ultimately, that’s how we do it in the fall.’