Vance Joseph has done a terrific job in turning around the Denver Broncos’ defense from the disastrous start they had in 2023 to then putting together one of the top defenses in the NFL in 2024. Despite that, he was not considered for the Associated Press’s Assistant Coach of the Year award.

Vance Joseph snubbed by Associated Press for Assistant Coach of the Year

From one of the worst defenses last season in points allowed and yards allowed, the transformation from the Broncos’ 2023 defense to 2024 was astounding. Of course, the Broncos went on a hot streak for five games in 2023, where the defense was forcing turnovers at an insane rate, but the overall body of work of Vance Joseph to come in and transform the defense is remarkable.

When he came in in 2023, Joseph ran the Vic Fangio/Ejiro Evero style of defense, even though that wasn’t something that he was used to calling as a coordinator. After Denver’s 70-point Miami debacle, the Broncos not only changed personnel, but they changed the scheme. As the season progressed, Joseph began to implement and call more of his style of defense, which is ultra-aggressive and features a healthy blend of man coverage and zone coverage.

In 2024, the Broncos defense took itself to another level, leading the league with 63 sacks, which became a franchise record. Joseph’s defense was ranked in the top ten in nine of eleven major categories.

  • 7th in Net Yards Per Game (317.1)
  • 2nd in Yards Per Play (4.93)
  • 2nd in Points Allowed Per Game (18.3)
  • 3rd in Net Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game (96.4)
  • T-8th in Interceptions (15)
  • T-7th in Fumble Recoveries (10)
  • T-7th in Total Takeaways (25)
  • 1st in Sacks (63)
  • 3rd in Red Zone Defense (46.9%)

On top of that, Patrick Surtain II is likely going to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award — he was named a First-Team All-Pro, an NFLPA First-Team All-Pro as voted on by his peers, named a starter in the NFL Pro Bowls games.

Surtain was one of three defensive players on the Broncos who earned All-Pro recognition. He, Nik Bonitto, and Zach Allen earned recognition there. Bonitto and Allen were Second-Team All-Pros.

You’re telling me Joseph’s resume wasn’t enough to be considered for Assistant Coach of the Year? It’s insane that he wasn’t.

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Look, I understand that the other coaches on the list deserve recognition for the work they did.

  • Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores
  • Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady
  • Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson
  • Detroit Lions DC Aaron Glenn
  • Philadelphia Eagles DC Vic Fangio

All of these coaches did an incredible job, but you can argue that Joseph and Denver’s defense did an even better job, considering most people nationally couldn’t name more than three or four players on Denver’s defense. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden nicknamed the Broncos defense the ‘Anonymous Crush’ because they made hay with a young roster with the only defensive first-round pick being Surtain.

So many different players, both inexperienced or young, players who were unproven, like Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Justin Strnad, Malcolm Roach, Jordan Jackson, and Jonah Elliss, to name a few, all contributed impactful downs for Denver’s defense.

If Surtain wins the NFL’s DPOY as the odds-on-favorite, what does that say when his defensive coordinator wasn’t even considered for the Assistant of the Year award? Granted, Denver’s defense had some lapses in the final four or five weeks of the season, but they still maintained their production as one of the league’s top units in those final rankings I mentioned above.

He did a good enough job to get himself two head coaching interviews. Vance Joseph has a legit gripe on being snubbed.