If you are a fan of American football, you might have heard of the names Mickey Joseph and Vance Joseph. Both are former players and current coaches in the National Football League (NFL). But are they related to each other? The answer might surprise you.
Who is Mickey Joseph?
Mickey Joseph is a former quarterback who played for the University of Nebraska from 1988 to 1991. He led the Cornhuskers to a 9-2 record and a No. 3 ranking in his junior year, before suffering a season-ending injury in the final game against Oklahoma. He was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 1992, but never played a regular season game.
Mickey Joseph then pursued a coaching career, starting as a high school coach in Nebraska and Louisiana. He moved up to the college ranks, working as an assistant coach at various schools, including Tulane, Alabama State, Nicholls State, Central Oklahoma, Alcorn State, and Grambling State. He joined Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2017 as the wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. He helped the Tigers win the national championship in 2019 with a record-breaking offense led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
In 2022, Mickey Joseph returned to his alma mater Nebraska as the associate head coach, wide receivers coach, and passing game coordinator. He was named the interim head coach in October 2022 after Scott Frost was fired following a 3-5 start. He became the first African American head coach in Nebraska history.
Who is Vance Joseph?
Vance Joseph is a former cornerback who played for the University of Colorado from 1990 to 1994. He was a backup to All-Americans Darian Hagan and Kordell Stewart, and also played running back for the Buffaloes. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 1995, and played one season for them. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1996, but only appeared in four games.
Vance Joseph also switched to coaching after his playing career ended. He started as a graduate assistant at Colorado in 1999, and then became the defensive backs coach there from 2002 to 2003. He coached at Bowling Green in 2004, before moving to the NFL in 2005. He worked as an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Miami Dolphins, mainly focusing on the secondary and special teams.
In 2017, Vance Joseph was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos, becoming the second African American head coach in franchise history after Eric Studesville served as an interim coach for four games in 2010. However, he was fired after two seasons with an 11-21 record and no playoff appearances. He then joined the Arizona Cardinals as the defensive coordinator in 2019, and helped them improve from last to fourth in total defense in his first year. In 2023, he returned to the Broncos as the defensive coordinator under new head coach Sean Payton.
So, are Mickey Joseph and Vance Joseph related? The answer is no. They are not brothers, cousins, or any other kind of relatives. They just happen to share a common last name and a passion for football.
According to Wikipedia, Mickey Joseph was born on March 5, 1968 in Marrero, Louisiana. His parents are Robert L. Joseph Sr. and Shirley A. Joseph. He has three brothers: Robert Jr., Terry, and Keith.
According to Wikipedia, Vance Joseph was born on September 20, 1972 in Marrero, Louisiana. His parents are George Joseph Jr. and Shirley A. Joseph. He has two brothers: George III and Terry.
As you can see, both Mickey and Vance have mothers named Shirley A. Joseph, but they are not the same person. Mickey’s mother’s maiden name is Alexander, while Vance’s mother’s maiden name is Williams. They also have different fathers with different middle names.
The only possible connection between them is that they both have brothers named Terry Joseph. However, they are also not the same person. Mickey’s brother Terry is a former defensive back who played for Nebraska from 1988 to 1991. He is currently the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame. Vance’s brother Terry is a former wide receiver who played for Colorado from 1990 to 1994. He is currently a real estate agent in Denver.
Therefore, there is no evidence that Mickey Joseph and Vance Joseph are related by blood or marriage. They are just two successful football coaches who happen to have the same surname and hometown.
