New York Jets ask to interview Broncos’ Vance Joseph for head coaching job

Vance Joseph is back in the race for the head coaching job.

The Broncos defensive coordinator received an interview request for the vacant New York Jets head coaching position Monday, sources confirmed to The Post.

Joseph, 52, is in his second season coordinating Denver’s defense and has orchestrated one of the NFL’s best units this fall.

The Broncos were third in defensive scoring, second in yards per play allowed, second in net yards per pass attempt allowed and second in rushing yards per attempt allowed. They set a franchise record with 63 sacks – nine more than any other NFL team this year – and boast two Defensive Player of the Year candidates and Pro Bowl starters, cornerback Pat Surtain II and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto.

Joseph, of course, was Denver’s head coach in 2017-18 before being fired. He then spent four years as Arizona’s defensive coordinator before returning to Denver to work with head coach Sean Payton. Joseph told The Post last summer that he wanted to learn from Payton and that he aimed to at some point get another chance as a head coach.

“When you make a jump like this, it’s a winning culture,” Joseph said earlier this season when asked what he observed from Payton. “We replaced some players, but the coach was absolutely keen to have the right players. To change the culture, it’s a daily conversation about what he wants. He has been firm about what he expects from players, about how we work, how we train, how we study, how we lift and run. It’s a daily conversation and it’s firm. It’s never gray. He doesn’t hesitate about it. If the guys don’t do it his way, they can’t stay here.

“But we have a great group of kids who have adopted the coaches’ method and it’s working. That works. It’s a young group that believes in its message and that’s what’s important.

Since the Broncos play Sunday at Buffalo in the wild-card round, Joseph’s interview will likely take place on Jan. 15 or later due to NFL rules on head coaching interviews with employed candidates by playoff teams.

Want more Broncos news? Subscribe to the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.

Originally published: January 6, 2025 at 9:20 a.m. MST