Broncos DL Zach Allen Heads Back to Arizona, and He Credits Vance Joseph for All of It

Broncos Country, our best defensive lineman gets a reunion Sunday.

Zach Allen heads back to Glendale to face the Cardinals, the team that drafted him 65th overall in 2019. "Arizona — it's where I grew up basically in this league," he told DenverBroncos.com on Monday. He credited Vance Joseph, his coordinator in Arizona and now in Denver: "I really don't think I'd be in this position without him."

He's still producing. Per DenverBroncos.com, Allen leads the Broncos with 4.5 sacks, plus 16 quarterback hits and four tackles for loss through six games, and his Week 5 strip-sack set up the go-ahead field goal against the Chargers. Broncos Wire noted he was named first-team All-Pro after the 2025 season.

Our Take: Following Joseph to Denver was the best free-agent call this franchise has made in years. Allen is the engine up front.

What to watch: Allen against a Cardinals line that knows him well, and whether he adds to that team-leading sack total.

Sources: DenverBroncos.com, Broncos Wire