With the Buffalo Bills officially naming Joe Brady as their new head coach on Tuesday, the NFL’s coaching carousel is finally starting to slow down. That leaves just three teams still searching for their next leader: the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals.
One of the top names still floating around in this year’s hiring cycle is Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. He’s been one of the more sought-after candidates this offseason, having interviewed with five different teams.
Of those, the Ravens, Giants, and Titans have already made their hires, narrowing the field. That leaves just two teams Joseph has spoken with who are still in the mix: the Cardinals and the Raiders.
Notably, he hasn’t interviewed with the Browns.
But here’s where things get interesting. The Raiders seem to be leaning in another direction.
Word around the league is that they’re honing in on Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. They've also interviewed Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, which could signal that Joseph may not be their top priority.
If that’s the case, the Arizona Cardinals may be the only team still seriously considering Joseph.
And there’s history there. Joseph spent four seasons as the Cardinals' defensive coordinator after his stint as head coach in Denver.
That kind of familiarity with the organization, the front office, and the locker room could give him a leg up. Arizona isn’t known for swinging big with flashy, headline-grabbing hires.
They tend to go for coaches who fit their culture and fly a bit under the radar-Joseph checks those boxes.
Adding a bit of fuel to the speculation fire was Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who nearly let something slip in a recent interview when asked about Joseph’s future. His hesitation and carefully chosen words sparked some curiosity, but ultimately, nothing concrete was revealed.
If Joseph doesn’t land the Cardinals job, it opens the door for Denver to retain one of the most respected defensive minds in the league. That would be a win for the Broncos, who fielded one of the NFL’s toughest defensive units under Joseph’s guidance. His scheme, adaptability, and leadership have been instrumental in the team’s recent success.
There’s also an intriguing subplot involving Davis Webb. With the Raiders showing interest in him, there’s a growing belief that Denver’s decision to part ways with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi could be a strategic move. Promoting Webb might be a way to keep him in-house and prevent him from jumping ship to a division rival.
Bottom line: unless the Cardinals move forward with Joseph, the Broncos are in a strong position to keep their defensive coordinator for at least another season. And after coming within striking distance of the Super Bowl, continuity on the coaching staff could be exactly what Denver needs to take that next step.