The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons continue to waste no time with their head coaching search and have now extended a request to Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
Joseph has been a defensive coach in the NFL since 2005, starting with the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant defensive backs coach. His first coordinator gig came in 2016 with the Miami Dolphins. Joseph has had one stint as a head coach with his current team, the Denver Broncos, from 2017 to 2018.
During this short tenure, Joseph’s Broncos finished in fourth and third place in the AFC West division, going 5-11 and 6-10, respectively. However, it’s fair to note that his quarterbacks in those two seasons were Trevor Siemian and Case Keenum. Joseph’s defenses weren’t elite during this time, but they were far from being the team’s biggest problem, and many feel it wasn’t an easy situation to succeed in. He was the first coach to follow up the Super Bowl-winning staff led by Gary Kubiak and quarterbacked by Peyton Manning.
Afterwards, Joseph returned to a defensive coordinator role and has continued to succeed in it. His Broncos defense gets after the quarterback and has been considered a top-5 unit over the past two years. These defenses are known for their speed and ability to get after the quarterback; sound familiar?
Many are pining after an offensive coach, but Joseph is well-respected in the league, and he’s more than earned the opportunity for an interview and potential head coaching job somewhere, if not in Atlanta.
