Source: Broncos request interview with Joseph
The Broncos are interested in discussing their open defensive coordinator position with a familiar face.
Denver will interview Vance Joseph, the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive coordinator and former Broncos head coach, for the coordinator position under new head coach Sean Payton, a source confirmed to The Post.
Joseph has been the Cardinals’ top defensive coach for the past four years since being fired as the Broncos’ head coach at the end of the 2018 season.
The 50-year- old Joseph was under contract with Arizona, but was told by the Cardinals that they intend to release him, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.
The Cardinals hired Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as head coach earlier in the week.
The situation is not unlike that of former Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, whom Denver let out of his contract to pursue other opportunities once Payton was hired and recently landed with Carolina.
Joseph is also expected to attract interest from Philadelphia, which just lost Gannon to the Cardinals.
A reunion in Denver certainly would be interesting.
Joseph succeeded Gary Kubiak after the 2016 season but compiled an 11-21 record and was fired at the end of his second season.
Denver had stout defenses both years under Joseph but struggled mightily offensively.
Joseph and the Cardinals came to Denver in December and the Broncos prevailed, 24-15. That week, Joseph was asked about his time as the head coach.
“I’m over it. It was never a sore spot,” Joseph said then. “That’s a great opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. It didn’t work out, but I wasn’t the first guy and I won’t be the last.
There were never any ill feelings. It was just a job, it didn’t get done and you move on.”
Asked what would have happened if he would have had a franchise quarterback during his tenure here, Joseph smiled and said, “I’m assuming we would have won some games because defensively it was right. It was right. That’s been stated numerous times, but that wasn’t the case. It was a fast two years in Denver. I can’t say it wasn’t warranted. I mean, we didn’t win.
“They wanted change and I was the guy to change. That’s part of being the head coach.”
Denver has also interviewed Seattle defensive assistant Sean Desai for the coordinator position and Payton has natural ties to former Saints co-coordinator Kris Richard. According to FOX, he also interviewed Rex Ryan last week and Ryan, according to an NFL Network report, is a strong candidate. Ryan, the former Buffalo and New York Jets head coach, is currently an ESPN analyst and has not been on the sideline since 2015. He hasn’t been a defensive coordinator since 2008.