The Las Vegas Raiders’ coaching search has swiftly entered AFC West territory, which could result in a significant power shift. That’s particularly true if we consider a key assistant coach who has been instrumental in a team’s resurgence.
The Raiders are scheduling interviews with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Broncos quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Davis Webb, based on multiple reports. Joseph’s candidacy has sparked a familiar divide online: skepticism about the process versus respect for his résumé.
Raiders fans will shrug off Vance Joseph’s interview as comedic relief because of the Rooney Rule but his resumé in terms of defensive development is top-tier.
Denver has been at, or near the top of most key categories (sacks, yards, scoring, and rushing) the last few years.
— RaiderRamble.com™ (@TheRaiderRamble) January 7, 2026
We accurately predicted many fans would “shrug off” Joseph’s interview as “comedic relief” tied to Rooney Rule discourse while arguing his defensive track record is “top-tier.” That framing captured a real current in the replies and quote-posts: some fans read the name and see “retread,” pointing to Joseph’s prior head-coaching stint in Denver; others look at the recent Broncos defense and see a coach who can build a unit, teach it, and keep it adaptable week to week.
Poaching Vance Joseph from the Broncos would be good for business…
On the merits, the case for interviewing Joseph is straightforward. The Raiders’ defense did not hold up week to week. Big plays showed up too often, and stops in key moments were not consistent. Joseph, 53, has been a head coach, and he has run Denver’s defense since 2023. If the Raiders want a staff that can tighten basics and keep games manageable, starting with an experienced defensive coach fits that aim, the Las Vegas Review-Journal noted.
Webb’s interview lands differently because it is a bet on projection. He is 30 and works with quarterbacks in Denver, so the appeal is easy to explain: the Raiders are looking at someone tied to the passing game and the development side of the sport. The concern is just as simple. Head coach is a CEO job in the NFL. Fans are asking whether Webb has enough years, authority, and breadth to run an entire team, or whether he is on the list early because Denver’s playoff bye allows a virtual interview this week, as NBC Sports reported.
The larger point is what the reaction says about trust. Raiders fans are not treating interviews as entertainment. They are treating them as proof. They want to see a clear plan—what style the Raiders want to play, what kind of leader they want, and how the next hire avoids another reset in two years.
*Top Photo: AP/David Zalubowski