Recognition keeps piling up for the Broncos.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was named Thursday one of five finalists for the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year Award, and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto was named one of five in contention for Defensive Player of the Year.

Winners of the league’s official awards, chosen by a media panel in conjunction with The Associated Press, will be announced Feb. 5 at NFL Honors in San Francisco, before the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, Calif.

“I’m super excited when I saw that news,” said coach Sean Payton, whose Broncos face New England on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High. “They’re two great candidates. Vance has been outstanding and a big reason we’re here. And then Nik with the season he’s had. … And I’m happy for both of them.”

Joseph, on Thursday, was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America. He is considered to have a very good chance of winning the official award next month.

With the Broncos going 14-3 during the regular season and being the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC, Joseph helped steer them to being No. 2 in the NFL in total defense.

“It’s cool,” Joseph said about the recognition he received Thursday. “But I go back to the players and coaches and the entire team, and when you win games in this league, more coaches get rewards and players obviously get rewards, and it’s a team game. It speaks to our team winning. The more we win, the more people around here will get rewards for doing their jobs. It’s flattering, but my focus is winning (Sunday’s) game.”

Bonitto led the Broncos with 14 sacks. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is Denver cornerback Pat Surtain II.

“It’s a true honor just knowing how many great players there are in the league, and for me to be one of the finalists for one of the best awards in the NFL, it’s definitely a great thing for sure,” Bonitto said of being a finalist. “I’m definitely happy and humble(d) at the same time.”

Payton called Bonitto “an All-Pro player and a Pro Bowl player,” although he interestingly didn’t make first- or second-team All-Pro, missing out by one vote for the second team. The Broncos had four players on the first team and two on the second team.

Bonitto was named to the AFC squad for the Pro Bowl Games. The Broncos had six players named to the Pro Bowl.

Other finalists for Assistant Coach of the Year are Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Joseph, Fangio and McDaniels are all former Denver head coaches.

Other finalists for Defensive Player of the Year are Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett, Houston defensive end Will Anderson, Detroit defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons.

Garrett is expected to easily win the award after having set an NFL record with 23 sacks in 2025.

“I would not be mad at all,” Bonitto said. “You broke the record, and he definitely deserves it. “But just the thought of me being up there, it’s pretty cool.”