Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will be the Broncos' next head coach after "agreeing to a four-year contract," according to Nicki Jhabvala of the DENVER POST. Joseph will be the Broncos' 16th head coach and "first full-time African American head coach in team history" (DENVER POST, 1/12). In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes the fact the "new face of the Broncos is African-American" is "important stuff, indeed." The coach of the local NFL team "might be the most high-profile leader in town." Kiszla: "Here’s betting the face of Joseph will appear more often on television during 2017 than the Denver mayor and Colorado governor ... combined" (DENVER POST, 1/12). FS1’s Jason Whitlock said he loves the Broncos hiring Joseph and compared it to when the Steelers hired Mike Tomlin in '07. Whitlock said, "One of the best franchises in all of professional sports, an organization that every year plays to win games in the postseason, now gives a young African-American coach his first job in the NFL. ... Vance Joseph is getting one of the best opportunities you can get in professional sports” (“Speak for Yourself,” FS1, 1/11).
TRUST THE PROCESS: ESPN’s Tedy Bruschi noted there is "not a lot of history" with Joseph, who just finished his first season with the Dolphins. He noted this "shows how valuable the interview process is." Bruschi: "I believe John Elway interviewed him a couple of years ago. You hit it off, you get a relationship with the head of an organization and then he’s believing in you" (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 1/11). KUSA-NBC's Mike Klis noted Elway "led the search and chose Joseph, believing in his overall leadership quality, teaching ability and overall approach as the right man to lead the Broncos" (9NEWS.com, 1/11).
