Report: Broncos Could Hire Matt Patricia as LBs Coach Under Vance Joseph

In the wake of Vance Joseph returning as defensive coordinator, the Denver Broncos could soon be announcing another hire. Sean Payton is gathering some big guns.

Broncos Country needs no history lesson on Joseph's head-coaching resume, and based on the linebackers coach being hired under him, it would appear that Payton is really prioritizing experience on defense. First breathed into the Broncos zeitgeist on Wednesday by Denver7's Troy Renck, and later confirmed on Thursday, former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could be joining the staff under Joseph.

Patricia interviewed with the Broncos earlier this week. KOARadio's Brandon Krisztal confirmed the Patricia possibility Thursday morning.

"Patricia joining the Broncos staff coaching LBs and almost certainly helping coordinate the run game defense, makes a lot of sense. He gets out of the Belichick shadow, and if VJ gets a HC gig, Patricia would be a logical DC choice, or could be a DC somewhere else," Krisztal tweeted.

Patricia joining the Broncos staff coaching LBs and almost certainly helping coordinate the run game defense, makes a lot of sense. He gets out of the Belichick shadow, and if VJ gets a HC gig, Patricia would be a logical DC choice, or could be a DC somewhere else.@KOAColorado…
— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) February 23, 2023

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Patricia, 48, served as the Detroit Lions head coach from 2018-20 and returned to New England in 2021. However, he didn't return to the defensive coordinator position he held for six years before leaving for Detroit. Bill Belichick installed Patricia as a 'senior football advisor.'

Patricia helped coach the offensive line in 2021 and received more purview over that side of the ball, which is a bit odd, considering his area of expertise. His defenses in New England were usually sound and disciplined, though the unit was rarely asked to carry the team's water, thanks to the presence of Tom Brady on the other side of the ball.

Patricia's tenure as a head coach in Detroit was utterly forgettable, even with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback, finishing with a 13-29-1 record (.314). But any individual who serves as a head coach gains invaluable experience. Payton will tap into that, both with Joseph and Patricia.

Payton's interest in Patricia shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as he's long been a Belichick fanboy and has studied the Patriots for years. Both Payton and Belichick spring off the Bill Parcells coaching tree.

"When I got hired in New Orleans in 2006, we just had to look at New England if we really wanted to see what the standard was," Payton said during his introductory press conference in Denver. "If we were making pizzas and there’s a line around the block in front of their pizza parlor, then we might want to know what they’re putting in their crust or their sauce."

Note: A previous version of this article reported that Patricia has been hired. He has not been hired yet.

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