The Arizona Cardinals plan to interview defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for the team’s head-coaching vacancy some time next week, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Joseph joins former New Orleans Saint Sean Payton as two of the known coaching candidates Arizona currently has interest in. The Cardinals were reportedly granted permission to interview Payton, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday.

Shortly after former head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s firing, Joseph was a name reportedly expected to get a “long look” for the opening, according to Rapoport.

It should come as little surprise given the coordinator’s name has been one brought up in coaching searches over the past two seasons. He’s a well-respected voice inside the organization and brings familiarity to the organization, having been with Arizona since 2019.

Before taking his coordinator role with the Cardinals, Joseph coached the Denver Broncos for two seasons (2017-18) before his firing.

Denver went 11-21 under Joseph and struggled mightily at getting the right QB in place.

He also got a crack at standing in for Kingsbury as co-acting head coach with special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers against the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Despite Kingsbury being forced off the sideline for the contest due to COVID-19, Joseph and the Cardinals cruised to a 34-14 win.

As for this past season, Joseph and the defense were among the team’s strong points in a 4-13 finish. Pegged as the unquestioned weak link of the team last offseason and dealing with a pile of injuries throughout 2022, the unit actually found some consistency despite what the final stats read. The Cardinals’ inept offense did Joseph and Co. zero favors behind a mountain of three-and-outs and poor play.

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