The Denver Broncos are hiring former franchise head coach Vance Joseph to be their defensive coordinator, multiple outlets reported Thursday.
Joseph, 50, was selected over former NFL head coaches Rex Ryan and Matt Patricia, among others, for the open post under new head coach Sean Payton. Joseph replaces Ejiro Evero, who left to become the DC of the Carolina Panthers.
Joseph interviewed remotely with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday for their defensive coordinator post. He reportedly was scheduled to interview Thursday with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.
Instead, Joseph returns to the Broncos, five years after he was fired as head coach. Joseph went 11-21 in two seasons in 2017-18. He had been the defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals since.
Joseph returns to Denver under new ownership and a new management team.
Joseph was released from his contract with the Cardinals last Thursday, the same day they introduced Jonathan Gannon as their new head coach. Joseph interviewed with Payton and the Broncos for eight hours on Friday.
Joseph also was the defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins in 2016.
Also Thursday, 9News in Denver reported that Payton was adding Joe Lombardi to the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball. The grandson of the legendary Vince Lombardi, he served two stints as quarterbacks coach under Payton with the New Orleans Saints.
Per the report, Lombardi could serve as offensive coordinator, a role he held the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Charges. He was fired on Jan. 17 following the Chargers’ wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars — a game in which they squandered a 27-point lead.
9News also reported that the team is adding Michael Wilhoite as linebackers coach. He spent the last two years as LBs coach with the Chargers and was with Payton in New Orleans from 2019-20.
ESPN also reported NFL veteran quarterback Davis Webb will be hired as the Broncos’ QB coach.
Webb, 28, backed up Daniel Jones with the New York Giants last season. He started one game and completed 23 of 40 passes for 168 yards with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
Webb now will be guiding the 34-year-old Russell Wilson in his first NFL coaching job.
–Field Level Media
