On Wednesday, the Jets interviewed a candidate who helped the Broncos become one of the league’s surprise teams in 2024.
Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is the 10th known candidate to interview for the head coaching gig made vacant after Jets owner Woody Johnson fired Robert Saleh in October.
The Raiders will also interview Joseph for their open coaching job later this week.
Joseph’s interview was conducted just days after the Broncos’ season ended with their 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round on Sunday.
The Jets are also looking for a new general manager and interviewed Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey last Saturday for that opening.
Joseph, 52, has coached in the NFL for 20 seasons. In 2016, he was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, helping them to a 10-6 record and their first playoff appearance in eight years under then-coach Adam Gase.
Joseph’s only previous head coaching experience came after he left the Dolphins and became the Broncos coach from 2017-18. He was fired after registering an 11-21 record with double digit losses both seasons.
Following his unsuccessful stint with the Broncos, Joseph became the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator (2019-22) before being hired by Sean Payton as the Broncos defensive coordinator, a position he has maintained ever since. This season, Denver’s defense ranked third in points allowed (18.3 points per game) and first in sacks (63).
That was a significant turnaround from the 2023 season in which the Broncos’ defense finished 27th in points allowed (24.3) and 21st in sacks (43).
“It’s flattering, and it is not the first time going through this process,” Joseph told Denver reporters about getting interview requests. “It speaks to our team’s success when guys are getting honors like that. Players are making Pro Bowls, coaches are getting chances to move on to high positions.
“I hope to have a chance to do it again, but I’m not chasing it. When that time comes, I’ll spend some time on that.”
Joseph also played two seasons in the NFL, starting his career with the Jets. As an undrafted free agent out of Colorado in 1995, Joseph played 13 games as a defensive back for the Jets and registered two interceptions. He also played four games for the Colts in 1996 before retiring.
“You have to be around ‘VJ’ to understand who he is,” Denver defensive tackle D.J. Jones said, according to Denver’s KUSA. “He’s a leader, obviously. He’s resilient, a great teacher and is patient. Whoever would [hire] him would be getting a special guy.”
The Jets are conducting general manager and coaching interviews simultaneously. In November, Johnson hired The 33rd Team to help identify candidates for both positions. This was after he fired both coach Saleh and GM Joe Douglas in the middle of a disappointing 5-12 season.
In addition to Joseph, the Jets have interviewed Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel, Rex Ryan, Matt Nagy, Aaron Glenn, Mike Locksley, Steve Spagnuolo, Darren Rizzi and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich for the coaching position.