The Denver Broncos are coming off the most effective seasons in franchise historical past. They went 14-3, surging previous the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs to win the AFC West and earn the No. 1 seed within the convention earlier than falling a sport wanting a Tremendous Bowl look. Nonetheless, coach Sean Payton is making a serious change for 2026 in hopes of sparking the offense.
Payton revealed Tuesday on the NFL Scouting Mix that he’s giving up play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. Payton referred to as Webb “extraordinarily gifted,” and stated this resolution is finest for the staff.
“It was one thing I type of knew through the yr. He and I visited on a handful of events. He is extraordinarily gifted. Almost about play-calling, I believe he’ll be actually good at it,” Payton stated.
In 2025, Denver’s offense ranked 14th in scoring (23.6 factors per sport) and tenth in complete offense (342.6 yards per sport), whereas second-year signal-caller Bo Nix accomplished 63.4% of his passes for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. At face worth, these numbers are fairly strong, however there was a cause why Denver fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi final month. The Broncos made a behavior of placing stress on themselves with gradual begins. In actual fact, Denver registered 12 comeback wins this previous season — an NFL document.
It was evident all yr. The Broncos performed with their meals within the season opener towards the lowly Tennessee Titans in a 20-12 victory, after which misplaced their subsequent two video games. In Week 5, the Broncos needed to rating 18 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 21-17. Two weeks later, the Broncos got here again from down 19-0 within the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Giants, 33-32. In line with CBS Sports activities Analysis, these 33 factors had been probably the most scored in a sport in NFL historical past by a staff that was being shut out getting into the fourth quarter. Broncos followers had been left questioning why their offense waited till the ultimate quarter-hour to begin taking part in.
Payton struggled to get Nix and his offense right into a rhythm. It is simple to criticize the quarterback every time the offense cannot keep on the sector, however a few of Payton’s third-down play calls had been questionable, together with in essential conditions. Look no additional than Denver’s controversial resolution to go for it on fourth-and-1 within the first half of the AFC Championship sport as a substitute of kicking a chip-shot discipline aim in an eventual three-point loss. Payton referred to as a bootleg or play-action move that was doomed from the beginning. He stated afterwards that he regretted the play name greater than the choice to go for it.
The opposite side of this resolution is the promotion of Webb, who clearly has already earned the belief of Payton and Nix.
Who’s Davis Webb?
The 31-year-old Webb spent the previous three years because the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach. He served because the staff’s move sport coordinator in 2025 as nicely. A former NFL quarterback himself, Webb was chosen within the third spherical in 2017 by the Giants. Nonetheless, he performed in simply two NFL video games earlier than turning his consideration to teaching.
Webb has skilled a meteoric rise within the teaching world. He obtained head-coaching curiosity from the Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Payments and Baltimore Ravens this offseason. Webb might have discovered a job as an offensive coordinator for an additional staff, however the Broncos promoted him following Lombardi’s firing and are actually giving him play-calling duties.
Longtime NFL backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who performed for Payton in 2017 with the New Orleans Saints, had excessive reward for Webb.
“I can not fathom Sean Payton ever giving up play calling figuring out how he operates,” Daniel wrote. “And that ought to let you know every part it’s essential to find out about Davis Webb.”
Payton stated simply as a lot.
“I might solely try this [give up calling plays] if I felt like it could assist our staff,” Payton stated. “I will nonetheless be concerned with what we do offensively, identical to what we do defensively. However I do assume [Webb] has a present. He is actual sharp. I am glad he is on our employees. I am trying ahead to it.”
