Vance Joseph returned to the Denver Broncos this spring, five years after being fired as head coach in 2018. Now a defensive coordinator, Joseph will work directly with star cornerback Pat Surtain, who was drafted in 2021.
“He’s special,” Joseph said of Surtain on June 14. “I’ve watched him play in a lot of games, and he’s special. He’s a prototype when it comes to height, weight, arm length and all those things.”
Surtain (6-2, 202 pounds) has a 32.5-inch arm length, and he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at Alabama’s pro day. It’s not just Surtain’s physical gifts that make him a special player, though. The 23-year-old cornerback also has the intelligence to play at an extremely high level.
“His special trait is his intelligence,” Joseph said. “He’s a very, very smart player. He understands the game, and he works at the game on a daily basis. When you combine that part with his physical traits, it’s unique. He’s coachable, and he wants to get better every single day. He’s definitely a special player.”
Through two seasons with the Broncos, Surtain has totaled 24 pass breakups and six interceptions. Now playing under Joseph, a former defensive backs coach, Surtain will aim to post even better numbers in Year 3.
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