It wasn’t too long ago when the Denver Broncos defense was in a similar spot to where the New York Jets find themselves now.

In 2023, the first year under Super Bowl head coach Sean Payton, Denver surrendered 70 points to the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. It’s among the single worst performances from a defense in the modern era.

No Jets defense has been as bad as that — at least not when considering the actual box score numbers.

Yet, two years later, the Broncos have not only transformed to become the AFC’s top seed, but their defense has also become one of the best units in football. It’s the kind of turnaround that should prove to Jets fans that improvement is possible…

Even when faith in the coaching staff is hard to come by.

Young talent

There are key distinctions separating the Jets’ current defense from the Broncos’. To start, Vance Joseph was not fired midway through his first season back in Denver, unlike the Jets, who fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

The Broncos also started the 2023 season with an All-Pro cornerback, Patrick Surtain II, similar to the Jets’ Sauce Gardner. In fact, many of the key stars on Denver’s defense that season are still with the team today.

Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, and Zach Allen remain key cogs in what Denver has built.

So, what changed?

An infusion of young talent, including cornerback Riley Moss, and a recommittment to fundamentals, altered Denver’s defensive DNA.

It’s something the Jets should take note of as they continue their search for a defensive coordinator.

New York has its work cut out for it to improve its defense in 2026. They don’t have a lockdown cornerback (after the Gardner trade), their linebackers were underwhelming, and the defensive line has been a significant disappointment.

There are plenty of positions in need of upgrades.

Scheme commitment

However, the Broncos show how quickly a group can be rebuilt with the right coach and scheme.

Joseph swapped schemes midway through the 2023 season, and it brought forth immediate results. Now, Denver is ranked in the top five in all categories, including sacks, yards, and points given up.

The first step for the Jets to emulate Denver is to find a defensive coach who believes in the scheme. If the team wants to be a man-coverage unit that blitzes a lot, they need a play-caller who buys into that approach.

Next, they need an infusion of talent. Edge rushers, a top cornerback, safety help, and a potential linebacker are all needed in order to get the unit to where it should be.

Finally, it comes down to patience.

Denver’s defense has worked together for three years to reach elite status. While improvements are expected, the Jets need to work together within their scheme and give themselves a chance to improve.

It may be the one thing fans are unwilling to agree to (being patient), but it’s a key factor in how Denver has become the top seed in the AFC.

It’s also one of the many reasons why the New York Jets have struggled on that side of the ball.