Vance Joseph is back in the mix for head coaching jobs.

The Broncos’ defensive coordinator received a request Monday to interview for the New York Jets’ vacant head coaching job, sources confirmed to The Denver Post.

Joseph, 52, is in his second season coordinating Denver’s defense and has orchestrated one of the best units in the NFL this fall.

The Broncos finished third in scoring defense, second in yards per play allowed, second in net yards per passing attempt allowed and second in rushing yards per attempt allowed. They set a franchise record with 63 sacks — nine more than any other team in the NFL this year — and have a pair of Defensive Player of the Year candidates and Pro Bowl starters in cornerback Pat Surtain II and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto.

“It’s a great sign, No. 1 for Vance. He’s smart, he’s a great communicator and he’s got a very calm and I would say strong voice,” head coach Sean Payton said Monday, without specifically mentioning the Jets opening. “Man, his players play extremely hard for him. He’s been a great addition to our staff.”

Joseph, of course, was Denver’s head coach in 2017-18 before getting fired. He then spent four years as Arizona’s defensive coordinator before returning to Denver to work with Payton.

“(Teams are) trying to find and hire quality coaches that are passionate about what they’re doing — guys like Vance and his expertise,” Payton said. “Look, history has told us that, on a number of occasions, the second experience for guys oftentimes can be very positive.”Joseph told The Post in the summer of 2023 that he wanted to learn from Payton and was aiming to at some point get another chance as a head coach.

“When you’re making a jump like this, it’s about a winning culture,” Joseph said earlier this season when asked what he’s observed of Payton. “We changed some players out, but Coach was big into having the right players. To change the culture, it’s a daily conversation about what he wants. He was firm on what he wants from players, how we worked, how we practice, how we study, how we lift and run. It’s all a daily conversation, and it’s firm. It’s never gray. He doesn’t waver on it. If guys don’t do it his way, they can’t stay here.”

Defensive tackle Zach Allen is one of several players who played the best football of his career this fall, finishing with 8.5 sacks and leading all interior defensive linemen with 67 pressures, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Allen’s played his entire career for Joseph, first in Arizona and now in Denver.

“First and foremost, he’s just an elite teacher,” Allen said. “The way he’s able to get guys to understand concepts is so important.…

“Obviously, selfishly, I want to play for him forever, but success brings that and hopefully he gets exactly what he wants.”

Because the Broncos are playing Sunday at Buffalo in the wild-card round, Joseph’s interview will not be until at least Jan. 15 or later due to NFL rules on head coaching interviews with candidates employed by playoff teams.

Joseph could end up with a busy stretch as other teams with coaching openings are just starting Monday to put in requests for interviews. NFL Network also reported Monday that Broncos senior personnel executive David Shaw, the former Stanford head coach, will also interview for the Jets head coaching job.

Whether Joseph gets a job this offseason will be decided over the coming weeks, but Payton wasn’t shy about making a general prediction.

“I think Vance is going to be a head coach again,” he said. “And the best interview happens early in the postseason. When you’re winning, things are shinier. And I think that goes for coaches, too, being hired.”