Fans start petition to get Broncos DC fired

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Fans start petition to get Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph fired

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/26/23

There’s plenty wrong with the Denver Broncos, but a growing contingency of fans believe that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is at the top of the list.

Following Denver’s historic 50-point loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, one of those fans, Rebecca Wallace, started an online petition to get Joseph fired.

“While we appreciate Vance Joseph's efforts, it is clear that he lacks the necessary expertise or ability to elevate our struggling defense,” Wallace wrote. “…We respectfully urge the decision-makers within the Broncos organization to take immediate action and relieve Vance Joseph of his defensive coordinator duties. By doing so, we can bring in a new defensive coordinator who will be able to maximize the potential of our talented defensive players and restore our team's reputation as a dominant force in the NFL.”

The petition currently has 2,776 signatures with an expressed goal of 5,000 signatures. Nearly 1,400 people signed the petition on Tuesday.

Wallace’s petition against Joseph isn’t the only sign of unrest aimed against the Broncos. Following Sunday’s loss, three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Surtain vented on X about the team wasting the talents of his son, Patrick Surtain II.

Toiling in the soil!! SMH 2 you deserve better
— PAT SURTAINl (@psurtain23) September 24, 2023

Joseph’s job appears to be safe for now, but if Denver’s defense doesn’t shape up soon, head coach Sean Payton could be forced to make a change.

“No," Payton told reporters on Monday when asked if he planned to fire any coaches. "And that wouldn’t be something I’d share on a conference call if that ever were the case.”

Statistically, the Broncos have the worst defense in the NFL. They allow a league-high 458.3 yards per game, and they rank 29th against the pass (280.3 yards per game allowed) and last against the run (177.7 yards per game allowed) and last in scoring (40.7 points per game allowed).

Prior to Denver, the 51-year-old Joseph spent his previous four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals, where he finished with the 21st-, 11th-, 13th- and 32nd-ranked defenses, respectively.

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