Vance Joseph Explains Broncos Defense's Biggest Challenge in 2026

The Denver Broncos' defense is heading into the 2026 season looking like they could have all of the tools to have a similarly strong campaign from the one they're fresh off of.

After all, their starting unit on that side of the ball is practically the same group they ended last season with, outside of the departure of John Franklin-Myers, who took his talents to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Other than losing that piece of their defensive line, the similarities to last year's defense are vast.

But the Broncos and their coaching staff are still looking for their defense to be even better than how they turned out in 2025. Which, which, for defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, might be one of the biggest hurdles this unit will face heading into next season.

Vance Joseph Explained the Challenges Broncos Defense Will Face

Joseph detailed some of the challenges that the Broncos' defense will be dealt with in preparing for the season ahead back during Denver's offseason program, which primarily centered around not getting complacent from how they've done through the past couple of years.

Instead of settling with the work and production they've seen themselves be capable of this past season, Joseph has prioritized for the Broncos to keep working through "the process" that got them to those heights in the first place.

"I told the guys the very first day that we're not chasing what we've done the last two years, but we're chasing the process that got us there," Joseph said, via Andrew Mason on X. "And that's tough for players and coaches alike."

"The process is tough and it takes a long time to be really good at something. And once the season's over, what you did last year doesn't matter, and that feels like a waste. But, starting over is the key, finding ways to get better... We have to find ways to get better; taking the ball away and those things. Helping our team win that way is the goal."