ENGLEWOOD — Vance Joseph is “OK” with the results from the recent hiring cycle. 

Joseph said as much after Thursday’s organized team activities at Broncos Park. His courteous demeanor illustrated that Joseph is grateful for a return to the Broncos, which boasted one of the best defenses in the league in 2025 under his guidance.

“My focus now is to get back in position … and that’s winning games for the Broncos and (having) a great defense again,” Joseph said after practice. “It’s a process that’s different every single year. I can’t be concerned with outcomes. Just keep pushing forward, winning games and being in position to interview. That’s an honor. I am not discouraged. My focus is the Broncos defense right now. And I do want to be a head coach, but there are seasons for that. Right now, my focus is strictly on our defense being better this year.” 

The Broncos’ defense finished top two in various categories, including yards allowed per game (278.2), third-down conversion percentage (33.8%) and rushing yards allowed (91.1). It led the league with 68 sacks, one season after it led the league with 63.

Despite those results and a trip to the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots, 10 teams elected to hire coaches other than Joseph.

“Selfishly, I’m thrilled that he’s back,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “But there’s that part of me, with what he was able to do with the team and how that benefited our team, I’m sure he’s going to have another shot at this thing. I’ll do anything and everything I can to help him. He’s been fantastic to work with. His command of the room and the players on defense and what they’re doing is super impressive.”

That comes with 28 years of experience, including a stint as the Broncos’ head coach from 2017-18 and serving as Denver’s defensive coordinator since 2023. Joseph hopes his return, along with a formidable defense, will help the Broncos remain dominant in 2026. 

“Continuity in this league is rare and the fact that we’ve got it is huge,” Joseph said. “We really hit the ground running. It’s crazy. It’s only really been six practices with how much we’ve already put in and got accomplished. It’s really exciting, and I’m definitely excited to take it into minicamp next week.”

Joseph and the Broncos are grateful for last year’s results where they finished 14-3, their best record since 1998 when Denver finished 14-2 and collected their first Super Bowl trophy. But he won’t dwell on the past. 

“I told the guys the first day that we’re not chasing what we’ve done the last few years, we’re chasing the process that got us there,” Joseph said. “And that’s tough for players and coaches. The process is tough and it takes a long time to be really good at something. Once the season is over, what you did last year doesn’t matter. … Starting over is the key and finding ways to get better even though last year and the year before were pretty good. But we have to find ways to get better.

“Taking the ball away and those things and helping our team win that way is our goal. Starting over and chasing the process and being better than we were last year is the goal.”