Davis Webb was a hot commodity during the NFL’s offseason coaching carousel. He interviewed for the head coach position in both Buffalo and Las Vegas, while his name also circulated as one of the top candidates to become an offensive coordinator in 2026.
Rather than let another team offer Webb that promotion, the Broncos decided to beat them to the punch. They elevated their quarterbacks coach / passing game coordinator to OC.
Having just turned 31 years on in January, why was Webb in so much demand? Why was a someone with only three years of coaching experience, who played in the NFL as recently as 2022, on so many short lists for coaching candidates?
That answer was provided in part on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. When Bills general manager Brandon Beane took to the podium, he explained why his team was interested in Webb.
“Davis is very smart,” the GM started. “When he walks into a room, he’s going to get respect because he played the game at this level, started games and (was a) third-round pick with the Giants.”
But the qualifications didn’t end there. After all, a lot of people check those boxes.
“We saw the coaching side of Davis as a player,” Beane added. “There were many times we would acquire a player in the season and Davis would say, ‘I’ll take them down to the meeting room myself and school him up.'”
That caught everyone’s attention. Not every player is willing to do that. Not every player is capable of doing that.
“I know that was one of the reasons Brian Daboll wanted to get him to New York, to help him install his offense and teach as many people as he could,” Beane continued, explaining why Webb made his fourth and final stop as a player with the Giants in 2022. “He’s a natural teacher, a natural communicator.”
Webb also has the pedigree of a great coach. He’s worked alongside, and learned from, some of the best in the business.
“He’s worked for a few seasons under Sean Payton; Sean’s a Hall of Fame head coach,” Beane added. “And his dad was a football coach in Texas. All of that is pouring into him.”
While the chance to be a head coach didn’t come Webb’s way during the most-recent coaching cycle, it’s not far away.
“He’s young,” Beane concluded. We talked when this opportunity came and we when we went in a different direction. ‘Hey, dude, you’ve only actually been coaching three years. You’ve been playing, so it seems like longer. Just keep building on this.'”
One of the key things to continuing his growth is expanding his role in Denver. While nothing has been formally announced by the Broncos, Beane let it slip that Webb’s impact on the offense will be larger than his predecessor, Joe Lombardi.
“He’s going to get an opportunity, I believe, to call plays,” the GM added. “(That) will only help his resume.”