ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When John Elway decides he wants something, or someone, he moves quickly.

Vance Joseph, who agreed to terms Wednesday to be the 16th head coach in Denver Broncos history, was the third, and final, candidate interviewed, following Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

It took nine days from the time Gary Kubiak announced he was stepping away from coaching for the Broncos to hammer out the final details on a four-year contract with Joseph.

Elway, the Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager, said last week the team is in "a position that we want to fill as quickly as we can." But he added "[we] would like to get it done, but we also want to make sure that we get the right guy."

The Broncos were able to get it done quickly -- as the second of the six teams looking for a new coach to fill the vacancy. Jacksonville hired Doug Marrone on Monday.

Did they get the right guy? Neither Shanahan nor Toub has spent as much time with the Broncos' brass as Joseph has in the last two years. Joseph, who just finished his first season as the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator, has been vetted not once, but twice. In January of 2015, Joseph was the first candidate to interview after the Broncos-John Fox divorce.

The Broncos interviewed Joseph then just after Kubiak announced his intentions to stay as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. Kubiak's comments came before the Broncos job was open.

So while Joseph was impressive in his first swing at the Broncos job, Kubiak was a former Broncos quarterback and assistant coach. He had also been Elway's roommate and is one of Elway's closest friends. You know the rest: Elway called Kubiak, Kubiak took the job, the Broncos won a Super Bowl.

Still, Joseph had made an impression that lasted. Shanahan is a Broncos' legacy and many believed the team preferred him, but with the Falcons in the playoffs, the Broncos did not want to wait around for Shanahan to finish his season.

The Broncos were intrigued by Shanahan's high-scoring offense -- the Falcons led the league in scoring at 33.8 points per game, the only team to average more than 30 this season -- and have a need in that department.

But Elway offered this nugget a little over a week ago: "We're not going to not pay attention to that defense, either. It's just important, if not more important to get better on defense than it is to get better offensively. The offense will come. I think what we have to do is -- defense has become our identity."

Elway also called staying "great" on defense the "No. 1 priority" for the Broncos this offseason. He believes the ability to relate to players and manage the locker room is as important as any strategic decision.

Joseph is a respected communicator -- Dolphins coach Adam Gase said as much Wednesday when he said that Joseph "did a great job with our players" -- who earned his way with the nuts-and-bolts coaching as well.

He simply wouldn't have been hired if Elway and Co. didn't like what he had to say about his plans for the team's offense. Former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and former Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave are already set to interview for the coordinator job.

Defensively Joseph inherits a unit that could play 4-3 or a 3-4. He has coached both schemes and the Broncos have played both in the last three years. The defense includes three first-team All Pros in cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr and Aqib Talib, and linebacker Von Miller.

The question is what will happen with Wade Phillips, whose contract with the Broncos is up. Joseph and Phillips were together on Kubiak's staff in Houston.

If Joseph wants to call plays or play a 4-3, Phillips would likely look elsewhere. Many in the league believe he could be headed to the Los Angeles Rams if Sean McVay is hired as head coach. Secondary coach Joe Woods would be leading candidate for defensive coordinator if Phillips leaves.

If Phillips leaves, several of the Broncos defensive assistants could follow. Then, Joseph will have a complete makeover of the offensive and defensive staff.

That's all for the days to come. Elway has picked Joseph for the job that comes with high expectations given the level of talent on the roster.

Or as Elway said: "The goal has not changed. The goal is still the same."

Joseph knows that, he's heard it at least twice.