Davis Webb is calling plays for the Broncos. That's a bigger deal than it sounds.
Sean Payton rarely hands off the headset. His decision to make first-year coordinator Davis Webb the primary playcaller signals something has changed in Denver.
Sean Payton has called plays for most of his coaching career - through 15 seasons in New Orleans and three full regular seasons in Denver. This year he is handing the job to Davis Webb, a 31-year-old first-year offensive coordinator who was still an NFL backup quarterback as recently as 2022. The arrangement is unusual for Payton, and the Broncos are betting it accelerates Bo Nix's development heading into a season with genuinely raised expectations.
What pushed Payton to give up playcalling duties?
The AFC Championship loss to New England was the breaking point. Denver managed just 32 second-half yards in a 10-7 defeat played without starting quarterback Bo Nix, and the offense failed to gain 17 or more yards on any possession after halftime. Payton said he had considered delegating play-calling responsibilities midseason before deciding a permanent change made more sense. The move is not a demotion or a sign of friction - it is a calculated bet that fresh eyes on the headset, combined with Payton's system and authority on the sideline, produces a better offense in 2026.
Who is Davis Webb, and why does Payton trust him?
Webb joined the Broncos staff when Payton arrived in early 2023, first as quarterbacks coach and later as passing game coordinator. He is 31 years old and spent time as a backup quarterback with the New York Giants before moving into coaching. The connection clicked fast - according to ESPN, Payton was so impressed after Webb's interview that he called him back before Webb had even left the airport. Webb called plays once in the preseason last year against Arizona, and Denver put up 562 yards that day. Payton's assessment of his new coordinator: 'He's got good energy, he's extremely sharp, we're better having him.' Webb, for his part, described the opportunity plainly: 'It was a no-doubter, I didn't want to leave here.'
What does this mean for Bo Nix?
Webb has worked directly with Bo Nix for two seasons, and the quarterback has publicly credited him with a significant share of his development. Before finalizing the offensive approach for 2026, Webb and Payton reviewed two full seasons of game tape together, specifically studying what worked with Nix as the starter. That continuity matters. Nix knows Webb's voice, Webb knows Nix's tendencies, and the play-calling will be shaped around what the film showed works. Webb was clear that the philosophy stays intact: 'This is a Sean Payton-coached football team with Sean Payton offensive philosophy.' The addition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from Miami this offseason gives Webb a legitimate deep threat to work with alongside Courtland Sutton, addressing the biggest schematic limitation Nix faced in his first full season.
How does this fit into the bigger picture in Denver?
The Broncos are building around a young quarterback with a new contract, a revamped receiving corps, and now a reshaped coaching structure - all under a head coach who just signed a five-year extension through 2030. Sean Payton's new deal signals the organization is committed to seeing this rebuild through rather than making another change at the top. Handing play-calling to Webb is consistent with that long-view thinking: Payton is building an offense that can grow with Nix rather than one that depends on Payton micromanaging every game-plan. If Webb earns more trust as the season progresses, Denver could have a sustainable offensive structure in place for years.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Broncos coordinator Davis Webb embracing role as playcaller
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