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DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 25: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos reacts during the third quarter in the AFC Championship Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos‘ head coach, Sean Payton, made a big decision on Tuesday when he announced that new offensive coordinator Davis Webb – who formerly served as the quarterbacks coach and offensive pass game coordinator in Denver – will start calling the plays.
“A notable change: Broncos HC Sean Payton said OC Davis Webb will be Denver’s play caller this season.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
When asked to clarify what lead to him giving up play-calling, Payton pointed to Webb’s ability and talent, rather than him needing to step-back personally.
“He’s extremely talented,” Payton said about Webb at the combine. “With regards to play-calling, it’s something that I think he’ll be really good at it. I know it’s like, man, are you going to give up play-calling? And I would only do that if I thought it was going to help our team…I do think he has a gift. I think he’s real sharp. I’m glad on he’s on our staff.”
Payton Will Still Call Certain Offensive Plays on Game Day
However, if anyone thought that Payton would fully step back from calling plays 100% – something he has done every year that he has been a head coach since joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Sean Payton: “I’m still going to call some plays on game days”
“I’m still going to call some plays on game days”, Payton said, per DNVR’s Zac Stevens.
Payton also noted – as one may have already assumed – that he will not relinquish all control over the offense, stating that he will still oversee and be involved in much of what goes on with the unit.
“I’ll still be involved with what we do offensively, just like with what we do defensively.”
How Much Control Will Sean Payton Retain Over the Offense?
The implication certainly is that Payton is allowing Webb a great deal of control over that side of the ball.
Considering that the former New York Giants third round pick, who is still just 31 years of age, is being given this responsibility that quite literally no other offensive coordinators under Payton have been presented with, it probes the question as to if the Broncos head coach made this concession in order to keep Webb.
Webb generated serious interest around the league for multiple offensive coordinator positions, so it tracks that perhaps Payton conceded play-calling duties in order to entice him to remain with the organization.
But there is no doubt that – whilst he underplayed it a bit in comparing his role on offense to his one on defense – that Payton will remain central to offensive game-planning.
The Super Bowl winner is one of the greatest offensive minds in the game today, and once again continued to draw up outstanding plays for quarterback Bo Nix – who reportedly did not have an input into the decision to make the change at play-caller – to succeed as well as he has over the first two years of his career.
So whilst Webb may be the man calling the plays – or at least most of them – come game-day, Payton will certainly remain integral in designing the game-plan on offense.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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