Mile High Huddle

Report: Broncos Name Vance Joseph as New DC

The ex-Denver HC returns to the Mile High City.

Zack Kelberman

In this story:

Vance Joseph will be having the time of his life. Again.

According to media reports, the Denver Broncos on Thursday hired Joseph, formerly the team's head coach, as their new defensive coordinator.

Joseph beat out several other candidates for the job — Rex Ryan, Sean Desai, Kris Richard, and Matt Patricia — after conducting a multi-hour interview last week with Broncos HC Sean Payton.

"Sean Payton told me over weekend he was impressed with Vance Joseph’s presence and experience," 9NEWS' Mike Klis reported. "Knows he’s a leader who commands the room. The two kept in contact after in-house interview last Friday."

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Joseph, 50, spent two seasons (2017-18) as Denver's head man, accumulating an 11-21 record. Fired in 2019, he landed on his feet as the Cardinals' DC and held the position until Feb. 16, when new Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon released Joseph from his contract.

Following some early success — the Cardinals twice ranked top-12 in points allowed — Joseph's defense fell off a cliff last year, finishing 31st in scoring and 21st in total yards allowed.

Returning to the Mile High City, Joseph inherits a star-studded unit that placed 14th and seventh in those same categories under former DC Ejiro Evero, who left for Carolina this offseason.

"I can't wait to work with him," cornerback Patrick Surtain II said of Joseph, via Denver7's Troy Renck.

Joseph is the first defensive hire made by Payton, who's also retained a pair of holdover assistants: line coach Marcus Dixon and secondary boss Christian Parker.

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Zack Kelberman
ZACK KELBERMAN

Zack Kelberman is the Senior Editor for Mile High Huddle. He has covered the NFL for more than a decade and the Denver Broncos since 2016. He's also the co-host of the wildly popular Broncos show the Mile High Huddle Podcast.

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