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The Broncos are making a notable change heading into the 2026 season.
Sean Payton said Tuesday that he’s giving up play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb next season. The move marks the first season Payton will not call plays in Denver as he heads into his fourth campaign.
This past year, the No. 1-seeded Broncos fell just short of a trip to the Super Bowl after a 10-7 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Shortly after the loss, the Broncos fired former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.
“I think it’s going to help our team, and I’ll do whatever it takes to support him,” Payton said at the NFL Scouting Combine of the play-calling change. “It’s not something I would do if I didn’t think it will help our team.”
When Payton was the head coach for the Saints from 2006 through 2021, he was the primary play-caller, including when New Orleans won Super Bowl 2010 over the Colts.
The 31-year-old Webb previously served as the quarterbacks coach before he was promoted to OC on Feb. 2.
“First off, I think it was something that I kind of knew during the year. [Webb] and I visited on a number of occasions,” Payton added. “He’s extremely talented. With regards to play-calling, it’s something that I think he’ll be really good at it. I know that’s like, ‘Man, are you gonna give up play-calling?’ And 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.”
Webb, a former quarterback and Giants draft pick, interviewed for the Raiders and Bills head coach openings and also had interest from Big Blue for their offensive coordinator job before his Denver promotion.
He previously called plays for Denver during a 2025 preseason game. He drew a lot of praise from the locker room after that contest.
“I thought he was fast, and efficient and had a lot of energy. Players responded. I thought he did a great job,” Payton said at the time.
Webb will look to improve the Broncos’ offensive stats from last season; they finished 14th in both points per game and total yards.
He first joined the Denver coaching staff in 2023, one year after his last season on the field.