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The Tennessee Titans conducted an interview with Vance Joseph for their head coaching vacancy. Here's everything you need to know about the Titans' candidate.
Joseph, 53, is the defensive coordinator for the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos, who finished 2025 ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 1 in defensive yards allowed per play and No. 3 in scoring defense. Joseph previously served as Denver’s head coach from 2017-18 and also has experience as a defensive coordinator in Miami and Arizona on top of three years NFL playing experience and another 15 years of NFL and collegiate coaching experience.
Joseph’s first head coaching opportunity was a disappointment. He took over a Denver franchise coming off five straight winning seasons including four AFC West titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy and responded with records of 5-11 and 6-10 in two years. His defense still ranked top-three in the league in Year 1, but even that slipped in Year 2, when the Broncos slipped to 12th in scoring and 22nd in total defense.
Joseph’s teams particularly struggled on offense, a product of struggling to find consistency at quarterback. In Year 1, Joseph’s squad cycled between Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch before turning the ball to Case Keenum in Year 2. The quartet combined to throw 37 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in the two-year period.
The Broncos fired Joseph after two seasons. He brought his defensive philosophies to Arizona the next year, helping lead the team to one playoff berth in four years.
But Joseph’s real reputational reclamation came upon his return to Denver as Sean Payton’s defensive deputy in 2023. The Broncos have led the NFL in sack rate each of the last two seasons built around a fearsome front of Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Bonitto, Cooper, Allen and Franklin-Myers have combined for 76 sacks in the last two seasons. For comparison, the Titans as an organization have combined for 74 sacks in the same timeframe.
Joseph favors a defensive scheme that blitzes a little more than average and trusts its cornerbacks to make plays in coverage. That’s easier to achieve when coaching a player like 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, but Joseph’s trust in Surtain has helped Surtain emerge as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.
The Titans fired former coach Brian Callahan in October after a 1-5 start to the 2025 season that followed a 3-14 debut year in 2024. Under interim coach Mike McCoy, the Titans finished the 2025 season with another 3-14 record and earned the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Titans have announced completed head coach interviews with the following candidates:
The Titans have also scheduled interviews with or requested interviews from the following candidates: Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, former Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans coaching search: Pros, cons of Vance Joseph as candidate
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Joseph, 53, is the defensive coordinator for the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos, who finished 2025 ranked No. 2 in total defense, No. 1 in defensive yards allowed per play and No. 3 in scoring defense. Joseph previously served as Denver’s head coach from 2017-18 and also has experience as a defensive coordinator in Miami and Arizona on top of three years NFL playing experience and another 15 years of NFL and collegiate coaching experience.
Vance Joseph coaching resume
Joseph’s first head coaching opportunity was a disappointment. He took over a Denver franchise coming off five straight winning seasons including four AFC West titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy and responded with records of 5-11 and 6-10 in two years. His defense still ranked top-three in the league in Year 1, but even that slipped in Year 2, when the Broncos slipped to 12th in scoring and 22nd in total defense.
Joseph’s teams particularly struggled on offense, a product of struggling to find consistency at quarterback. In Year 1, Joseph’s squad cycled between Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch before turning the ball to Case Keenum in Year 2. The quartet combined to throw 37 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in the two-year period.
The Broncos fired Joseph after two seasons. He brought his defensive philosophies to Arizona the next year, helping lead the team to one playoff berth in four years.
But Joseph’s real reputational reclamation came upon his return to Denver as Sean Payton’s defensive deputy in 2023. The Broncos have led the NFL in sack rate each of the last two seasons built around a fearsome front of Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Bonitto, Cooper, Allen and Franklin-Myers have combined for 76 sacks in the last two seasons. For comparison, the Titans as an organization have combined for 74 sacks in the same timeframe.
Vance Joseph to Titans? What makes sense
Joseph favors a defensive scheme that blitzes a little more than average and trusts its cornerbacks to make plays in coverage. That’s easier to achieve when coaching a player like 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, but Joseph’s trust in Surtain has helped Surtain emerge as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.
The Titans fired former coach Brian Callahan in October after a 1-5 start to the 2025 season that followed a 3-14 debut year in 2024. Under interim coach Mike McCoy, the Titans finished the 2025 season with another 3-14 record and earned the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Titans coaching search candidates, info
The Titans have announced completed head coach interviews with the following candidates:
- Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC
- Lou Anarumo, Colts DC
- Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC
- Vance Joseph, Broncos DC
- Kevin Stefanski, former Browns HC
- Jason Garrett, former Cowboys HC
- Mike McCoy, Titans interim HC
The Titans have also scheduled interviews with or requested interviews from the following candidates: Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, former Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans coaching search: Pros, cons of Vance Joseph as candidate
Continue reading...
