After the win against the Oakland Raiders, former Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak announced his retirement on Jan 1., however the big question remained who will be the new Broncos coach? After just a few interviews and discussions, on Jan. 11 Vance Joseph also known as V.J., the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, became the official head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Joseph played college football at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) and was an undrafted free agent in the National Football League (NFL) where he signed with the New York Jets. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts. After a brief time as the secondary coach for the Wyoming Cowboys in 2002, he then returned back to Colorado as a defensive back coach for the CU Buffs.

From 2011 to 2013 Joseph worked under Kubiak for three seasons, as a defensive backside for the Houston Texans. He was offered a position in Cincinnati and was later recruited to be the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins in 2016.

Johnson was the third candidate interviewed by the Broncos, following Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Dave Toub and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. One of the things that made Joseph stand out was his impressive leadership skills.

“He brings a leadership quality that you really love about him,” said Miami head coach Adam Gase. “He has such a great personality and such a strong personality — that alpha-type personality where he demands a lot from players and they give him everything they have.”

Seen by many as NFL’s most coveted coaching position, the Broncos give Joseph plenty to work on with their defense due to their lack of holding during games. Denver remains dangerous and disruptive on this side of the ball while anchored by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller.

Also boasting the tough, secondary defense led by Chris Harris and Aqib Talib, Denver’s roster puts Joseph in a position to win right away. The question is whether or not he can maintain the number one defense led by former coordinator Wade Phillips, whose contract has expired.

“This is not a rebuilding situation; it’s a reboot,” Joseph said in a press release. “There is a culture of winning here, and the standards around here won’t change.”