4 former NFL head coaches the Vikings could replace Mike Zimmer with

Vance Joseph

Former Team:

• Denver Broncos

Career Record:

• 11-21 (.344)
• No playoff appearances

After the first nine weeks of the 2021 season, the Arizona Cardinals have the best record in the NFL at 8-1, and Vance Joseph leading the team’s defense is a big reason why.

With Joseph as their defensive coordinator during their first nine games, the Cardinals rank third in the NFL in points allowed, fourth in yards allowed, third in turnovers forced, sixth in passing yards allowed, and third in sacks.

Arizona’s defense has made tremendous progress in each of their three seasons with Joseph calling the plays and it’s likely going to lead to him getting some attention as a potential head coach in 2022.

He had the opportunity to be a head coach back in 2017 and 2018 with the Denver Broncos, but things didn’t go very well. The Broncos failed to win more than six games in either of their seasons with Joseph as their head coach and he was eventually let go by the team after the 2018 campaign.

Earlier this season, he had a bit of a head-coaching audition when he filled in for Kliff Kingsbury in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns after the Cardinals head coach had to sit out of the matchup due to a positive COVID-19 test. With Joseph leading the way, Arizona demolished the Browns by a final score of 37-14

If that was a preview of how things could be if Joseph were given another opportunity to be an NFL head coach, then he might be one of the most sought-after candidates next year.