Broncos coach Sean Payton talks about giving play-calling duties to Davis Webb.
INDIANAPOLIS – Sean Payton started calling plays as an NFL head coach when Davis Webb was 11 years old. Now he will turn those duties over to the recently hired offensive coordinator who is half his age.
Payton announced at the NFL scouting combine Tuesday that Webb, promoted Feb. 2 after three years as quarterbacks coach, will be Denver’s primary offensive play caller in 2026.
Payton, 62, called plays when head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006-11 and 2013-21 and for the past three seasons with the Broncos. Webb, 31 and a former NFL quarterback, is entering his fourth season as an NFL assistant coach.
“I think it was something that I kind of knew during the year,’’ Payton said. “He and I visited on handful of occasions. … He’s extremely talented. With regards to play calling, it’s something that I think he’ll be really good at it. It’s like, ‘Would you give up play calling?’ I would only do that if I felt like it would help our team. … I do think (Webb) has a gift. I think he’s real sharp. … I’m looking forward to it.”
Payton said he only is giving up play calling “because of Davis” being on his staff. But he said he still is “going to call some plays on game days” and that the Broncos will continue to run the same offense.
Payton fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Jan. 27, two days after the Broncos lost 10-7 to New England in the AFC Championship Game. Lombardi had been Denver’s offensive coordinator while not calling the plays for the past three seasons and had also spent 10 seasons under Payton with the Saints.
“It was something I was already moving towards before anyone had even discussed it,’’ Payton said of eventually replacing Lombardi with Webb. “It was midseason.”
Payton insisted it won’t be difficult to give up play calling. He will be able to focus more on other details of the game.
“I’m going to have opinions with plays,’’ he said with a laugh. “Mine will be the bad ones; his will be all the good ones.”
Denver in 2025 was led by a defense that was No. 2 in the NFL in total defense and No. 3 in points allowed. But the Broncos were a respectable No. 10 in total offense and No. 14 in points scored.
“We had a good team (on offense),’’ Payton 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. … I’m sure there are going to be times where I say, ‘This is what I want to run.’ But there’s trust there.”
Payton long has felt good about Webb, who was an NFL backup quarterback from 2017-22 with the New York Giants, New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. Webb also had the title in 2025 of being Denver’s offensive pass game coordinator and has a very close relationship with quarterback Bo Nix, entering his third season.
Webb interviewed for head positions in January with the Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders. Webb also interviewed for several outside openings for offensive coordinator.
“I think he was wanting to stay (in Denver),’’ Payton said. “He interviewed at a few spots, and I think that that opportunity’s going to come for him, to be a head coach. I don’t know if this was, ‘Well, I’m staying if I get to do this.’ I don’t think that was the case. … I don’t want to speak for him, but I think he really likes what he’s begun to do here with us and the start of working with a young quarterback. It’s hard to leave that.”
Asked about Webb earlier Tuesday at the combine, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said, “He’s going to get an opportunity, I believe, to call plays now.”
That prompted Payton to joke about what Beane said.
“I know Brandon Beane announced it earlier in the media,’’ Payton said. “So I saw him in the hallway. I thought, ‘You can come on, you can do my presser, too.”’
Beane did speak highly of Webb, a Bills quarterback from 2019-21.
“Davis is very smart,’’ Beane said. “Obviously, when he walks into a room, he’s going to get respect because he played the game at this level. … He’s a natural teacher, a natural communicator.”
Broncos general manager George Paton made note of the move while lauding Payton. The coach won a Super Bowl with New Orleans in the 2009 season and led the Broncos to a 14-3 regular-season mark in 2025.
“I’m not too surprised,’’ Paton said. “I think (Payton) pondered (the move), like he said, midway through the season. The cool thing is he’s one of the best to call it and he’s going to let this young up and comer (call plays). That just goes to show you how much he believes in Davis.”
Payton turned play calling over to Webb for a preseason home game last August against Arizona. The Broncos won 27-7 while rolling up 562 yards.
“I challenged him in the offseason prior to that preseason game,’’ Payton said. “He did a good job, but I think it’ll 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.”
In his 18 seasons as an NFL head coach, Payton’s teams have finished 14 times in the top 10 in total offense and 10 times in the top five. He did point to one game in 2011 when he was injured and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, who now has the role with Buffalo, took over the play calling.
“We played ‘Sunday Night Football’ against the Colts, and we scored 63 points (in a 63-7 win),’’ Payton said. “I’m like, ‘Pete, you’re killing me.’’’
Stay tuned to September when Payton again gives up play calling for a regular-season game, this time to a coach half his age.