According to Kils, Joseph is the candidate most frequently mentioned in connection with one of the HC vacancies in the upcoming cycle. The 53-year-old joins after serving as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator from 2019-22. sean paytonTheir first staff in Denver in 2023. Although their ’23 unit finished near the bottom of the league in both total defense and points per game, their 2024-25 defense has been one of the NFL’s best.
As Klis says, Joseph is particularly known for his ability to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, perhaps the most important quality of a defense in the modern game. The Broncos have racked up a league-leading 112 sacks over the past season and a half, which is one reason Joseph is expected to generate so much interest at HC (he’s already been linked to the Titans’ vacancy).
When Joseph was asked earlier this week about the attention his work has earned, he predictably downplayed his HC aspirations, while acknowledging that working under Payton has given him valuable insight into how to “fix” a team (which is similar to the Commander’s offensive coordinator and former Cardinals head coach). cliff kingsburyJoseph’s former boss recently talked about working under him dan quinn,
“It’s nice, but my second time through this process, or my third or fourth time through this process, I don’t think about it,” Joseph said. “I don’t really do that because I know it’s about winning. Everybody wants to hire winners. They want to hire somebody who has done something right. And there’s no better example than what we’ve done here the last three years. Being with Sean Payton helped me learn how to fix a team.”
Joseph compiled a disappointing 11–21 record in his two seasons as the Broncos’ bench boss, but Denver’s quarterback position left much to be desired during that time. Additionally, Joseph’s team was 6-6 in 2018 before injuries to the Pro Bowlers chris harris And Emmanuel Sanders That helped a four-game skid to end the season.
As of this writing, the 9-2 Broncos are just a half-game behind the Patriots for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Naturally, Joseph indicated he is focused on his team’s postseason efforts, and said he would be happy to return to Denver if he doesn’t get the HC job in 2026.
“Winning is important. And don’t worry about the process,” He said. “It’s the Broncos’ season right now and honestly that’s what I’m focused on. If it happens, I’ll be happy. And if it doesn’t happen, I’ll still get a good job. I have good players. I’m in a great city. Honestly, I’m not worried.”
Apart from his achievements, there may be another reason for the buzz around Joseph. As our Sam Robinson wrote in a recent article just for subscribers, the 2026 crop of offensive-minded HC talent (like Kingsbury) hasn’t generated much upside in 2025, which may make teams more inclined to consider defensive-oriented candidates.
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