Alex Singleton had something big to tell his defensive coordinator.

The Broncos linebacker approached Vance Joseph last November with stunning news. Singleton, a seventh-year NFL veteran and respected team captain, had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Joseph’s reaction?

“He didn’t care anything about football. It was all about me as a person,” Singleton told The Denver Gazette. “It’s hard to explain what ‘VJ’ means to me as a person because of times like that over four years together. He’s a father figure, an inspiration and a role model. But also, a brother and a best friend. All of those kind of intertwined into one person.”

Joseph is a big reason why the Broncos are considered Super Bowl contenders. His defense last season ranked first in the NFL in sacks (68) and yards per play (4.46). The Broncos did not allow a touchdown in five games, tying a franchise record. They return almost their entire unit from a year ago — except defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety P.J. Locke.

It appeared Joseph might be gone, too. He interviewed for at least six different NFL head coaching vacancies. The ex-Broncos head coach (2017-18) didn’t land a job — not in this hiring cycle, at least. Joseph now is back in the head coach conversation.

“I do want to be a head coach, but there are seasons for that,” Joseph said back in OTAs. “Right now, my focus is strictly on our defense being better this year.”

The Denver Gazette sought to understand the head coaching qualities that make Joseph so respected in the Broncos locker room. The question: What do you most appreciate about playing for VJ?

Their responses illustrate a defensive coordinator who demands excellence with a personal touch.

Defensive tackle D.J. Jones: “The way he challenges us. Every coach I’ve had, they’ve been challengers. But the way he challenges the group, and the way we respond, shows the respect that everybody has for him. … You do something wrong out here (and) he’s going to hold you to a standard. He wants you to fix that immediately.”

Cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine: “He’s a technician. He wants everything to be perfect. Even the walk-through. … He’s going to hold you accountable. He’s going to do it in front of the whole defense.”

Defensive backs coach Doug Belk: “Players gravitate to him because he’s honest with them. But he has a lighthearted side where he can joke, and he can relate.”

Safety JL Skinner: “I think VJ does a great job of knowing his players and putting them in positions to do what they do best. VJ takes time and is really dedicated to bringing in the right personnel for what he needs. … He’s probably the smartest guy I’ve ever met when it comes to football.”

Coach Sean Payton: “It’s first how he leads the room and then, obviously, you have success. … He’s got a really good presence in front of the group, the team, the defense and he’s got a good way about him.”

Defensive lineman Zach Allen: “He was a former player, so he understands what we are going through. But at the same time there is a very high standard. He holds us accountable and he’s not afraid to do that. I think that balance is really valuable and rare to get in this league. I’ve been very fortunate to be with him now going on eight years together. It’s been really special.”

Singleton: “He treats us like coworkers, but not in a negative way. It’s not like a dictatorship. The communication skills from him are incredible. A lot of defensive coordinators can be like: ‘It’s my way or the highway.’ VJ is the opposite. We can work together and that’s one of the best things about him.”