DENVER — Davis Webb is over there. And Vance Joseph is still here.

When last season ended on a refrigerated afternoon at Empower Field, neither was expected to be in charge in training camp.

Sean Payton figured to give up his ATM PIN before surrendering his call sheet. Through collaboration, conversation — and perhaps a contract extension — Payton acquiesced, promoting Webb to offensive coordinator.

The bigger shock was that Joseph did not land a head coaching job. Despite multiple interviews, and some less-than-desirable vacancies, Joseph came up empty.

It is also not surprising when the NFL features only three black head coaches — Houston’s DeMeco Ryans, Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles and the Jets’ Aaron Glenn.

That Webb was closer to landing a gig in Buffalo and Las Vegas explains the kind of obstacles Joseph faces. He’s not young. And he’s not in charge of the offense.

He can remove all doubt by coaching the league’s No. 1 defense. Everyone wants the next Sean McVay. What about the next Mike MacDonald with a few more gray hairs?

With coach Payton presenting Drew Brees into the Hall of Fame, Joseph was put in charge of Saturday’s scrimmage. He looks the part.

Joseph is back. That means the Broncos should be back atop the AFC West. Leaving other contenders to chase.

While everyone slobbers over the return of Patrick Mahomes, the rebound of Lamar Jackson and the arrival of Joe Brady, the Broncos are in the best position to win.

It doesn’t matter what happens with Kenneth Walker or Trey Hendrickson or D.J. Moore when the Broncos have a defense capable of calling checkmate on anyone.

Joseph has inspired a brotherhood with his defense, creating players who lean on him and each other. They know he believes. They know he will put them in position to win. And they know he will give them all the credit.

Time to give him a parting gift: the No. 1 ranked defense and another shot in the cockpit.

V.J., as his players call him, is back. So is the relentless effort of Zach Allen, the SaranWrap-tight coverage of Pat Surtain II and the playmaking of Ja’Quan McMillian. V.J. is back in an orange-and-blue ball cap, and the Broncos are poised to leave all comers in a black-and-blue wake.

“It is what VJ has molded since he got here. It’s player-led. He’s going to give you the grasp of the defense. Once you show you can do the job, he has trust in you. And he also has trust that you are showing the younger guys how to be a pro,” cornerback Riley Moss said. “And I think personally, it is a developmental program. You are going to get better no matter what stage you are in. He wants you to get better. It’s the coolest thing. And it makes it fun.”

Well, unless you are an opposing quarterback. The Broncos set a franchise record with 63 sacks in 2024. Then bested it with 68 last season. With all due respect to Bo Nix and his fourth-quarter pixie dust, the defense was behind the 14-3 record.

“It all starts with V.J.,” Allen said. “It is about playing fast, and playing violent.”

There is another level to this defense. As good as the unit has been, there is a red dot on the cashmere sweater. The Broncos must produce more turnovers.

“That’s true,” Surtain said.

It makes no sense that 68 sacks led to only 14 takeaways. It is like a boxer landing 30 uppercuts and no knockouts.

They forced nine fumbles. They recovered four. Only the Commanders (two) had fewer.

Joseph sets a high standard. He knows the defense was good. But this is one area where the Broncos must improve.

Get the ball on the ground, especially with strip sacks. That happened only twice last season, inconceivable given the speed, power and chop of Nik Bonitto.

The 50-50 ball in the air has to be theirs. Anything less than four picks for Moss will be a disappointment. And it is past time for Talanoa Hufanga to end his 25-game streak without an interception. Conservatively, he should have had four or five last season.

“I really messed up last year when it came to those things,” Hufanga said. “I left a lot of — we call it money — on the field.”

There is no guarantee that the Broncos will win a fourth Super Bowl. But I can guarantee they will not reach one without Joseph. Broncos Country wanted him gone in 2018. And then again after the 70-point Miami Mauling in 2023.

All Joseph did was look in the mirror, accept blame, and keep fixing, adjusting and coaching until he found the right balance of controlled aggression.

Under his tutelage, Bonitto has evolved from unplayable to unstoppable. McMillian has gone from undrafted to producing unfathomable plays.

And, wouldn’t you know it, who are the biggest surprises a week-plus into camp? Defensive linemen Malcolm Roach and Eyioma Uwazurike. D.J. Jones predicted Roach would fill the defensive end vacancy left by John Franklin-Myers, and called Uwazurike “unblockable.”

When the 10 NFL head coaching jobs were filled this offseason, there was anger and relief. There is no way Joseph should not be in charge of a team. By staying for another season, he has a chance to make his candidacy undeniable.

Win a championship with the league’s No. 1 defense, and owners must give him a second chance.

©2026 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.