ESPN: Broncos’ rival named possible destination for..

The Denver Mustangs have played like one of the NFL’s best safeguards during their 6-2 stretch. Vance Joseph may still be offered head coaching positions in 2024, despite his humiliating Week 15 defeat to the Detroit Lions. Could the defensive coordinator for the Broncos get another chance in the AFC West?

Sayre Bedinger of Prevalently Orange named the Los Angeles Chargers as a group that could poach Joseph to fill their head training opening in the offseason.

“Vance Joseph is best known for being a great leader and player’s coach, in addition to calling defense for the Broncos for the majority of this year. In spite of the fact that circumstances didn’t pan out perfect in that frame of mind with the Mustangs as a lead trainer, players truly loved Vance Joseph and that keeps on being the situation. The Chargers could require a lead trainer the players will really come together for,” Bedinger wrote in his article distributed December 16.

Brandon Staley was fired 14 games into his third season with the Chargers. His fate in Hollywood was sealed following a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on December 15.

Including the postseason, Staley had a 24-25 record in Los Angeles through 49 games coached.

Vance Joseph’s Initial Head Coaching Stint in Denver Was a Disaster

If Joseph becomes a head coveting head coaching candidate this offseason, his past might come back to haunt him. The veteran coordinator’s stint as Broncos’ head coach from 2017-18 should give any NFL team pause.

Joseph struggled mightily in his two seasons at the helm in the Mile High City. After the retirement of Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, Denver seemingly lost its way as a winning organization.

During his first season in 2017, Joseph coached Denver to a 3-1 start. The Broncos then suffered an eight-game losing streak and lost 10 of its final 12 games.

The 2018 mission was not a lot kinder to the veteran mentor. The Broncos improved to 6-6 after starting the season 3-6 before losing its final four games.

Joseph went 11-21 as a lead trainer, missing the end of the season games in the two years and was terminated in December 2018.

Under Joseph, the Mustangs had continuous losing seasons interestingly beginning around 1972, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post. O’Halloran likewise noted Denver experienced consecutive times of no less than 10 misfortunes interestingly starting around 1967.

Chargers Might Be an Ideal Landing Spot for Vance Joseph if He Leaves Broncos

Regardless of the past, Joseph deserves a second chance as a head coach in the NFL. If the Chargers are interested in his services, it would be an ideal landing spot for the veteran coach.

Part of the reason Joseph struggled in Denver was due to a lack of stability under center. The Broncos trotted out four different starting quarterbacks during his two seasons in charge. Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch and Case Keenum all started games in that span.

There are zero quarterback questions in Los Angeles, with Justin Herbert emerging as one of the best at his position. Herbert passed for at least 25 touchdowns in his first three seasons since being selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Defensively, Joseph would possibly get to work with All-Pro talents in pass rusher Khalil Mack and safety Derwin James.

The Chargers severely underachieved on defense under Staley in 2023. According to Fox Sports, the Chargers rank 27th in points per game (24.6), 29th in yards per game (375.3) and 29th in pass defense (261.4).

Joseph resuscitated a dull guarded unit part of the way through his most memorable season as the Horses protective facilitator. Is there a possibility that Joseph could replicate his turnaround in Los Angeles in 2023 if the Chargers give him a chance?