Breaking: Vance Joseph will be the Broncos' next defensive coordinator

The Broncos hired Vance Joseph, 50, to be their next defensive coordinator, as was first reported by Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager. Joseph was the Broncos’ head coach in 2017 and 2018. He spent the past four years as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator but was not retained this offseason.

Joseph took over as the Broncos’ head coach in 2017, following Gary Kubiak’s decision to retire one year removed from Denver’s Super Bowl 50 season. Joseph’s two years as head coach were the team’s first back-to-back losing seasons since 1971 and 1972. The Broncos haven’t posted a winning record in the four seasons since.

Part of Joseph’s appeal as a head coach was his ability to run a defense very similar to Wade Phillips, who was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator in the two seasons prior to Joseph’s hiring. Joseph had previously spent three seasons on Phillips’ defensive staff in Houston. Joseph’s defensive results in Denver were right around league average, which was a step down from Phillips’ elite squads.

Joseph brought the Wade Phillips version of the 3-4 defense with him to Arizona when he became the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator. On average, Joseph’s Cardinals finished 19th in yards allowed and 20th in points allowed.

Joseph is expected to run the same defense in Denver. He runs a blitz-heavy scheme that emphasizes press man-to-man coverage on the back end. Look for more about the scheme on TheDNVR.com in coming days.

The Broncos will also retain a pair up-and-coming defensive assistants; Marcus Dixon, 38, will return for a second season as the Broncos’ defensive line coach and Christian Parker, 31, will return for a second season as the team’s defensive backs coach. Parker interviewed for the defensive coordinator position.

The Broncos also interviewed former Jets head coach Rex Ryan and longtime Patriots assistant and former Lions head coach Matt Patricia in the week leading up to Joseph’s hiring.

The Broncos have not announced a hire for their offensive coordinator position.