After being the mastermind behind back-to-back elite defenses, many assumed that Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would be one of the more sought after head coaching candidates this cycle. While he did have several interviews, he was never really viewed as the favorite for any of the jobs outside of the Arizona Cardinals job […]
After being the mastermind behind back-to-back elite defenses, many assumed that Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would be one of the more sought after head coaching candidates this cycle. While he did have several interviews, he was never really viewed as the favorite for any of the jobs outside of the Arizona Cardinals job for a short time.
Now with the Raiders expected to hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and the Arizona Cardinals hiring former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, all 10 of the head coaching vacancies have been filled. This means that Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will be returning to the team for the 2026 season.
According to DNVR’s Zac Stevens, Joseph was telling people inside the Broncos building last week that he would be returning to the team in 2026 as their defensive coordinator and these last two hirings made that official. This is big news since the team lost potential in-house replacement Jim Leonhard to the Buffalo Bills. If Joseph were to leave, the Broncos would likely have to start from scratch on the defensive side of the ball.
After a rough start to the 2023 season, Vance Joseph’s defenses have been one of the best units in the NFL. They have led the NFL in sacks in back-to-back years, produced a Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Pat Surtain II in 24, and had multiple All-Pros this past season. The Broncos defense is a big reason why they went 14-3 this season and came up big for them in the playoffs.
In the divisional round, they forced five Buffalo Bills turnovers, including four from quarterback Josh Allen. Then, in the AFC Championship Game, they suffocated Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for most of the game, but still came up short in the end.
Looking forward, the vast majority of the defense will return again next season for the Broncos. They may lose John Franklin-Myers, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, and PJ Locke, but they will add talent throughout the offseason and continue to develop the young players on their roster.
With expectations being Super Bowl or bust next season, I am thankful that Joseph will be returning for a fourth season. His defenses are a big part of why this team has turned into a Super Bowl contender, and they will need to play at a high-level again if they want to reach their ultimate goal next season.
Category: General Sports
