Broncos Assistant Hot Board 2.0: Is Rex Ryan the favorite for the job?

The Broncos seem to be closing in on their defensive coordinator.

Earlier this week, Mike Klis of 9News reported that new head coach Sean Payton had interviewed six coaches for his open defensive coordinator position. On Wednesday, we learned that he also wants to interview former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph for the job.

I broke down what each of the rumored candidates would bring to the table. I also took a guess at who else could be an option, and how the rest of the defensive coaching staff could shake out.

Most of the potential defensive assistants listed below are included because of their prior ties to Sean Payton or one of the top coordinator candidates. They’re skewed toward the coordinator candidates who have more experience because those coaches have more connections; it’s easier to guess who 60-year-old Rex Ryan might be interested in than who 39-year-old Sean Desai may consider.

For the most part, the names listed below are in order of who I think is most likely to end up with the job to who is least likely. As we learn more about who is being interviewed or what qualifications Payton is looking for, or who the defensive coordinator is, we’ll update this list.

I’ll have an updated list of offensive coaches in the near future.

Let’s dig in…

Defensive Coordinator

Sean Desai, 39 — Desai appears to be a top candidate for the Broncos, but they aren’t alone. The Eagles may be interested in Desai after their defensive coordinator left for a head coaching job. Desai has a master’s degree from Columbia and a doctorate from Temple and has spent a couple of years as an adjunct professor. He became the first NFL coordinator of Indian descent when he took over the Bears’ defense in 2021. When the team fired head coach Matt Nagy after the season, Desai wasn’t retained. He left for Seattle, where he was associate head coach and defensive assistant. Desai came coached under Vic Fangio but has some differing philosophies. The structure of his defenses are similar, but he is typically more conservative.

Rex Ryan, 60 — For the past six seasons, Ryan has been an analyst on ESPN, but a return to the NFL could be on the table. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday night that Ryan is a “top candidate” for the Broncos’ defensive coordinator job. Ryan doesn’t have any previous ties to Sean Payton, but in some ways his defenses are reminiscent of Payton’s offenses. Ryan made his name in Baltimore as the Ravens’ defensive line coach from 1999-2004. He then spent four years as defensive coordinator. In that time, the Ravens consistently had some of the best defenses in the NFL. Ryan led the Ravens through a transition from a 4-3 base defense to a hybrid 3-4 defense with great results. The hybrid defense allowed Ryan to cater gameplans to best fit the matchups on the field. He won the PFWA Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2006. When Ryan took over as the Bills’ head coach from 2015-16, he helped Buffalo through the same transition from 4-3 to 3-4 and employed the same philosophies. The results didn’t follow. Ryan’s most impressive stint was his six-year run as the Jets head coach, starting in 2009. New York made it to two conference championship games, both with Mark Sanchez at quarterback. Ryan hasn’t coached football in half a decade and hasn’t been a coordinator in a decade and a half, but his game-planning abilities and diverse schemes could make him an easy fit.

Christian Parker, 31 — The Broncos’ up-and-coming defensive backs coach keeps building more hype around himself. Despite being younger than some of the players he’s coached in Denver, Parker’s results speak for themselves. Justin Simmons led the NFL in turnovers forced. Pat Surtain might be the best cornerback in the game. Damarri Mathis looked like a starting NFL cornerback as a rookie after he took over for Ronald Darby. The Broncos reportedly interviewed Parker for their defensive coordinator job. If he isn’t the defensive coordinator, the Broncos could struggle to retain him, as former Broncos coordinator Ejiro Evero has already brought two defensive assistants with him to Carolina. If the Broncos can retain him as defensive backs coach, that would be a home-run hire.

Vance Joseph, 50 — The Broncos requested permission to interview their former head coach on Wednesday. Joseph is still under contract with the Cardinals to be their defensive coordinator, but former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is taking over as head coach and could take over defensive play-calling duties. Joseph’s name has been passed around as a potential coordinator for other teams, and he’s seen as one of the better coordinators in the league. Running the Broncos just four years ago could make him a strange fit in Denver. Schematically, the basics would stay the same in Denver. Joseph doesn’t run the Vic Fangio defense but he runs a 3-4 and should still be familiar with some of the Broncos’ personnel. In his two seasons as the Broncos’ head coach, the Broncos allowed two of their three most points allowed per game since Super Bowl 50.

Mike Zimmer, 66 — Zimmer has 14 years of NFL coordinating experience and eight years of experience as the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach. He’s a well-respected coach who cut his teeth as Deion Sanders’ position coach with the Cowboys in the 90s, where he coached with Payton for three seasons. Zimmer is rumored to be interested in Sanders’ staff at Colorado, but he’d almost certainly take the Broncos’ defensive coordinator job instead. He has run 3-4 and 4-3 defenses in the past, and would be more than capable of setting up a scheme that fits Denver’s personnel. If the Broncos are looking to build an all-star staff, convincing Zimmer to take the defensive backs job could be a grand slam. That might be unlikely, considering he’s only been a coordinator or head coach this century. Zimmer has also been connected to the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator job.

Kris Richard, 43 — The Saints decided to part ways with Richard, their co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach this week, clearing the way for him to rejoin Payton’s staff. Richard came up with the Seahawks, where he was the defensive backs coach for the Legion of Boom defense from 2011-14, before taking over as defensive coordinator for three years starting in 2015. Richard has an outside chance to take the coordinator job but is more likely to fit in as an assistant.

Defensive Line Coach

Marcus Dixon, 38 — When Ejiro Evero arrived in Denver, he Brought Dixon with him from Los Angeles and gave him his first position coaching job. The Broncos’ stud defensive linemen—DJ Jones and Dre’Mont Jones—both had solid seasons, but the rest of the group took a major step forward. DeShawn Williams had 4.5 sacks, more than the other three years of his career combined. Jonathan Harris played like he belonged in an NFL rotation. Rookie seventh-round pick Matt Henningsen was a valuable contributor. Dixon may end up in Carolina with Evero, but he hasn’t left town yet. He played three seasons for Rex Ryan in New York, which could give him a leg up on the competition if Ryan takes over Denver’s defense.

Chris Rumph, 51 — Rumph was the defensive line coach in Chicago in 2021, when Sean Desai was defensive coordinator. Like Desai, Rumph was not retained when Matt Nagy was fired. He held the same position for the Vikings in 2022, but may not be retained after Brian Flores took over as defensive coordinator this offseason. Rumph coached outside linebackers in Houston in 2020, so he could factor into the conversation there as well. Rumph has spent most of his career as a position coach in the college ranks. He coached at Clemson for five seasons and won two national championships during a three-year stint at Alabama. He was a defensive coordinator at Tennessee and Florida and was interim head coach of the Gators when Jim McElwain was fired. Hassan Ridgeway, Poona Ford, Malcom Brown and Dalvin Tomlinson are among the defensive linemen he helped develop as a college coach.

Bill Johnson, 67 — If you’re trying to connect the dots between potential assistant coaches and Denver’s staff, Bill Johnson is the man for you. In 2007 and 2008, Johnson was the Broncos’ defensive line coach. Then he became Payton’s defensive line coach for eight years. Johnson coached in the USFL last season and would certainly jump at the opportunity to join Payton’s staff.

Mike Smith, 63 — Smith, best known as the winningest coach in Atlanta Falcons history, hasn’t coached football since he was Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator in 2018, but if anybody could lure Smith out of retirement it might be Rex Ryan. When Ryan was the Ravens’ defensive line coach, Smith was his assistant defensive line coach. He also held a linebackers coach job in Baltimore before leaving to take a defensive coordinator job. Smith could fit anywhere in the defensive front if he comes to Denver, but an unretirement is a longshot. As of now, he’s a frequent guest on The BallFather Podcast. If the Broncos wind up with an all-star staff, Smith could be a perfect candidate.

Paul Pasqualoni, 73 — Is Pasqualoni still interested in coaching? He was last year, before he was fired midseason along with some other Panthers coaches. The veteran defensive line coach has earned coordinator roles in the past. He was also in Dallas for Sean Payton’s last season as offensive coordinator. Pasqualoni was tight ends coach, the only offensive job of his career, which meant he worked closely with Payton.

Ed Orgeron, 61 — There’s almost no way the Broncos can get Coach O to Denver, but he was Payton’s defensive line coach in 2008, so there’s a connection. This won’t happen, but it’s fun to think about.

Outside Linebackers Coach

Billy Davis, 57 — If Vance Joseph is the Broncos’ next coordinator, Billy Davis could fit in as either an outside or inside linebackers coach. Davis got his first position coach job with the Panthers in 1995 as their outside linebackers coach for four seasons. Since then he’s coached inside linebackers around the league, and has stops with the 49ers, Browns and Eagles as a defensive coordinator. He’s spent the past four seasons as the linebackers coach under Joseph with the Cardinals, but he’s likely to leave town after the Cardinals announced they are moving on from Joseph on Thursday. The bulk of Davis’ experience has come with inside linebackers, but he could also fit in outside.

Chris Rumph, 51 — See his notes in the defensive line section.

Joe Vitt, 68 — Vitt has been out of coaching for two years. His most recent work was as the Jets’ outside linebackers coach for two seasons. His first job came with the Colts in 1979, but his longest stretch with a single team was with the Saints for Payton’s first 11 seasons. He was the assistant head coach and linebackers coach and was the interim head coach for the season Payton was suspended.

Bobby April III, ~41 — April just signed on to be Stanford’s defensive coordinator after a five-year run as Wisconsin’s outside linebackers coach, but he may still be attainable… for a price. Rex Ryan gave April his first NFL position coach job in 2014 when April became the Jets’ linebackers coach. He was previously an assistant on Ryan’s defensive staff. When Ryan took over the Bills the next season, he brought April with him and April spent the full two-year run with Ryan in Buffalo. April has coached inside and outside linebackers equally and could be a fit in either position if Ryan is the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.

Ted Monachino, 56 — When the Falcons hired Ryan Nielsen as defensive coordinator, they decided not to retain Monachino for a third season as outside linebackers coach. Monachino has 16 years of NFL experience, including six years as Baltimore’s outside linebackers coach, a stint that earned him a Super Bowl ring and the Colts’ defensive coordinator job. Monachino worked alongside Desai for two seasons in Chicago.

Mike Smith, 63 — See his notes in the defensive line section.

Inside Linebackers Coach

Billy Davis, 57 — See his notes in the outside linebackers section.

Joe Vitt, 68 — See his notes in the outside linebackers coach section.

Bobby April III, ~41 — See his notes in the outside linebackers coach section.

Jim O’Neil, 44 — For four of Rex Ryan’s six seasons in New York, O’Neill was a defensive assistant. Since then, he’s coordinated the Browns’ and 49ers’ defenses and was most recently the defensive coordinator at Northwestern. O’Neil doesn’t currently have a job, and could be an easy fit if Ryan is the Broncos’ defensive coordinator. The bulk of O’Neil’s position coaching experience has come with defensive backs, but he also coached the Bills’ linebackers in 2013.

Mike Smith, 63 — See his notes in the defensive line section.

Defensive Backs Coach

Christian Parker, 31 — See his notes in the coordinator section.

Dennis Thurman, 66 — Thurman signed on as Colorado’s director of defensive quality control this offseason, but a position coaching job just down the road could win him over. Thurman coached under Rex Ryan for six seasons in Baltimore before following Ryan to New York, where he was Ryan’s defensive backs coach for four years and defensive coordinator for the final two. When Ryan left for Buffalo, Thurman followed him as his defensive coordinator. Thurman hasn’t held an NFL job since then, but if Ryan heads back to the NFL then there’s no reason Thurman wouldn’t join him.

Kris Richard, 43 — See his notes in the coordinator section.

Jim O’Neil, 44 — See his notes in the inside linebackers section.

Mike Zimmer, 66 — See his notes in the coordinator section.

Chuck Pagano, 62 — Pagano hasn’t coached in two seasons, but he may relish an opportunity to coach just down the road from his hometown of Boulder. Pagano came up in the Ravens’ defense before becoming the Colts’ head coach from 2012-17. He then spent two years as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, where Sean Desai was his safeties coach. It’s been more than a decade since Pagano has held a position coach role but, like Zimmer, he’d be a home-run hire on an all-star staff.

Special Teams Coordinator

Mike Westhoff, 75 — I almost included Westhoff in my first list of candidates, but I thought it was too crazy. I was wrong. Despite being 75 years old and half a decade removed from coaching in the NFL, Westhoff seems to be interviewing to be the Broncos’ special teams coordinator this week. ProFootballTalk first floated that the Broncos were interested in Westhoff early last week. Then Westhoff tweeted this on Thursday:

Last ride in #jacksonhole before heading to @_DenverColorado to meet up with an old friend. #figureitout #nflcoach #specialteams #author pic.twitter.com/cWoorrUM3X

— Mike Westhoff (@STCoachMike) February 16, 2023

Westhoff would be a spectacular hire. In his two seasons with Sean Payton in New Orleans—2017 and 2018, which came after a four-year retirement—Westhoff’s units finished in the top half of the league in DVOA both years… which was a slight disappointment. In his 12 years coaching the Jets’ special teams, which included four years with Ryan before Westhoff’s first retirement, the unit finished in the top 10 nine times. Two of the three years they didn’t were his first and last year in charge. Westhoff has been a staple in the NFL since the early 80s, including running the Dolphins’ special teams from 1986-2000. Maybe Westhoff is only interested in a minor role—e.g. senior assistant or assistant special teams coach—but he’s one of the biggest names in the history of NFL special teams coaching, so bringing him on in any capacity would be a win.

Jerry Rosburg, 67 — The Broncos’ interim head coach would be a good candidate (and a fan favorite) for the special teams coordinator job. He has 18 years of NFL experience as a special teams coordinator, including 11 seasons with the Ravens from 2008-18 when the Ravens had among the best special teams every season.

Bubba Ventrone, 40 — Ventrone built a decade-long NFL career as a special teams player, while never starting a game on offense or defense. Immediately after retiring, he joined the Patriots’ coaching staff as assistant special teams coach in 2015. He had played for New England in two separate stints. Ventrone became the Colts’ special teams coordinator in 2018 and has since grown into one of the best in the business. Indy is still in the midst of its coaching search and Ventrone could be available.

Mike Mallory, 60 — Mallory joined the Broncos’ staff as an assistant special teams coach in 2022, a role he also held with Payton’s Saints from 2008-12. In between, he was the Jaguars’ special teams coordinator. Mallory will probably fit into Payton’s staff as an assistant special teams coach, but he could be in line for a promotion.