Vance Joseph Hired as Broncos' Head Coach

Joe PantornoJan 2, 2017

The Denver Broncos started a head coaching search after Gary Kubiak resigned on Jan. 2 because of health concerns, but that search ended Wednesday when the team hired its next head coach.

Continue for updates.

TOP NEWS

Bleacher Report15h

Bleacher Report3h

Bleacher Report1d

Joseph Named Broncos' Head Coach

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Broncos and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph agreed to a four-year deal.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the move was expected to be announced Wednesday.

Schefter reported that Joseph postponed his meeting with the San Diego Chargers with a "Denver deal on deck."

"We enjoyed visiting with Vance Joseph at our facility today. He has great leadership qualities and a strong vision of what it takes to win," John Elway, the Broncos' vice president of football operations, tweeted on Tuesday after meeting with Joseph.

On Monday, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported that Joseph had a "leg up" in the coaching search:

NFL Insider Rand Getlin originally reported on Jan. 3 that Joseph would interview with the Broncos as well as the San Francisco 49ers regarding their head coaching vacancies.

Elway Comments on Shanahan Interview

Saturday, Jan. 7

"We spent the morning with [Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator] Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta," Elway tweeted. "He's a very bright coach who's had a tremendous year and has a great future."

Rapoport reported that Shanahan would interview for the Broncos' head coaching job. Rapoport noted that Shanahan preferred the Broncos job to other potential landing places such as Jacksonville.

"The word around the league right now, the word with people involved in coaching searches and gathering all of this information is that that's the job Shanahan has his eyes on—going to Denver where his father coached," Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported Thursday, per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com.

The Broncos requested permission to interview Shanahan on Jan. 2, according to Schefter.

Cole reported Jan. 3 that Shanahan has interest in the job despite his father Mike's history with the organization:

ESPN's Ed Werder tweeted Jan. 2 that Elway had "three or four potential head coaching prospects who would excite him." None of them are current Broncos assistants, though, per Werder.

Shanahan has never held an NFL head coaching job but has been an offensive coordinator for the past nine years with the Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins before joining the Falcons in 2015.

This season saw him lead one of the league's best offenses. Under Shanahan's watch, quarterback Matt Ryan developed into an MVP candidate as the Falcons nabbed the No. 2 seed in the NFC with an 11-5 record:

Stat	Amount	NFL Rank
Passing Yards	4,725	3rd
Rushing Yards	1,928	5th
Total Yards	6,653	2nd
Yards Per Offensive Play	6.7	1st
Points Scored	540	1st
Turnovers	11	T-1st

It has become apparent even to his players that Shanahan has the intangibles to be a head coach, even if it isn't with the Falcons.

Julio Jones told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Shanahan "definitely could be a head coach," while center Alex Mack said the following: "I think he'd have success at any level he chooses. That said, I hope he stays."

Shanahan's father was head coach of the Broncos from 1995 to 2008 and won two Super Bowls before taking over the Redskins from 2010 to 2013. During his father's stint in Washington, Kyle was the offensive coordinator, but they could muster only one winning season together (2012).

With a name that brought the Broncos their first Super Bowl titles, the younger Shanahan could be the offensive mind to pair with a stout Denver defense and bring the team back to the forefront of the championship conversation next year.