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DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos walks off the field after losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-20 at Empower Field At Mile High on December 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos offense is set to undergo a major change in 2026, with head coach Sean Payton stating on Tuesday he’s going to cede play calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
Not all plays, though.
“I’m still going to call some plays on game days,” Payton told DNVR’s Zac Stevens.
Payton fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi following Denver’s 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game after the Broncos went 14-3 in the regular season and earned home field advantage for the playoffs.
“A notable change: Broncos HC Sean Payton said OC Davis Webb will be Denver’s play caller this season,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
“AskedSean Payton what self-reflection led to him naming Davis Webb asBroncos’ play-caller,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans wrote on X. “Said it has to do with being ‘quicker.’ ”
“It’s only if there’s someone that you feel like it is good enough to do that,” Payton said, as well as clarifying quarterback Bo Nix was not involved in the decision.
Webb Steps Into High Profile Role
Webb, the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach and a former NFL quarterback, will be called upon to guide an offense which likely kept the Broncos from making it to the Super Bowl.
“Sources: TheBroncos are promoting QBs coach Davis Webb to offensive coordinator,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account on February 2. “Webb was a HC candidate and a top OC candidate for several teams, but he’s staying in Denver with Bo Nix — whom he’s very close with. Expect Webb to be a top HC candidate next year.”
The Broncos didn’t have Nix against the Patriots after the 2024 first round pick fractured his ankle in overtime of Denver’s win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.
Offensive quality control coach Logan Kilgore was promoted to QBs coach in a corresponding move.
Webb interviewed for 3 head coaching jobs and had opportunities to go elsewhere as an offensive coordinator but chose to stay in Denver for at least 1 more season.
Interviewed for Several Head Coaching Jobs
Webb, 31 years old, seemed to come out of nowhere in this coaching cycle to become not just a hot candidate for offensive coordinator jobs around the NFL but was a surprise candidate for sever head coaching jobs.
Most notably, Webb seemed like a prime candidate to become the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, where he was a backup quarterback to reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, who Webb still has a close relationship with.
Webb withdrew his name from the coaching search for the Las Vegas Raiders, who went with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak — the son of former Broncos quarterback and Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak.
Webb joined the Broncos in 2023, head coach Sean Payton’s first season, as quarterbacks coach and added the title of offensive pass game coordinator in 2025.
The Broncos ended a 9-year playoff drought in 2024 and tied the franchise record for most wins in a single season in 2025 as well as setting the NFL record with 12 comeback wins.