Recently, Denver Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton announced that newly promoted Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb will take on the role of play-caller for the team’s offense. The announcement was made at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
Payton explained his decision by stating, “He’s extremely talented. … It’s something that he’ll be really good at it. Man, it’s like, ‘Would you give up play-calling?’ I would only do that if I felt like it would help our team. I’ll still be involved with what we do offensively, just like what we do defensively. But I do think he has a gift. He’s real sharp. I’m glad he’s on our staff.”
Webb previously served as quarterbacks coach for two seasons and became passing game coordinator before the 2024 season. This marks his first time calling plays in regular-season games for the Broncos.
Payton said he began considering handing over play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season and emphasized that the move is aimed at benefiting the team overall.
“It’s still going to be our offense, but I think it’s easier to do as you get older and you look at, ‘How do we win more games?'” Payton said. “… I think it’s going to help our team, and I’ll do everything I can to support him. It’s something that I wouldn’t do if I didn’t think would help.”
Webb previously called plays during a preseason win against the Arizona Cardinals in 2025 where Denver gained 562 total yards and averaged 7.8 yards per play, scoring 24 points in the first half of that game.
“Listen, I’m looking forward to it,” Payton said Tuesday. “I challenged him in the offseason prior to that preseason game. He did a good job. But I think it will help us, and certainly I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think it was going to help our team win. You get to a point where you’re focused strictly on improving your team any way you can.”
Despite Webb taking over primary play-calling responsibilities, Payton noted he would still call some plays during games and remain engaged with offensive decisions.
When asked about whether this change was due to past performance issues, Payton responded: “No it wasn’t that, because we finished 10th [in total offense] this year, and we had a good team,” he said. “There are certainly things that we want to be better at. It’s also being quicker. It’s only if there’s someone you feel is good enough to do that. He’ll have that opportunity, and like I said, having done this before, I can recall how it was. I’m sure there are going to be times where I say, ‘This is what I want to run.’ But there’s trust there.
“There’s trust with his ability and trust in our relationship.”
