For nearly two decades, Sean Payton has treated offensive play-calling like a secured briefcase. He didn’t hand it off in New Orleans. He didn’t hand it off in his first two seasons in Denver. But now, at 61 years old, the head coach has done something he never did with Drew Brees: he gave the sheet to someone else.
The move is historic for Payton, and it signals a massive vote of confidence in a 31-year-old former quarterback who has never called plays in an NFL regular-season game. According to ESPN, Davis Webb will now be the one with the call sheet on Sundays, stepping into expanded duties as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator while keeping the framework of Payton’s system intact.
How a Former Backup QB Earned Payton’s Trust
Webb, who spent 2024 as Denver’s quarterbacks coach, has been groomed inside Payton’s ecosystem for two seasons. He played quarterback in the league for six years — mostly as a backup — and became known more for his preparation than his arm. That preparation, according to people close to the organization, is what convinced Payton to loosen his grip.
Speaking after an OTA practice, Webb addressed the dynamic directly. “I trust him, he trusts me, and we think very similarly. I know how he wants the game to be played,” Webb said. He also made it clear that the core offensive structure won’t change. “The system is still Sean’s. We’re not reinventing anything.”
The decision to stay the course conceptually is especially important given what the Broncos have at quarterback. Bo Nix, coming off a 14-3 rookie season that turned heads league-wide, will operate within the same framework he learned in 2024. The team has not confirmed whether Nix will have more audibling freedom this year, but insiders suggest that minor adjustments are on the table to improve rhythm and pre-snap flexibility.
Vance Joseph Stays — and Payton Isn’t Quiet About It
On the defensive side, coordinator Vance Joseph is back despite fielding multiple head coaching interviews this offseason. Denver’s defense allowed just 18.3 points per game last season, and Payton made no effort to hide his satisfaction that Joseph chose to return. “He’s a head coach in waiting,” Payton said, adding that Joseph’s leadership will “inevitably” land him another top job soon.
That kind of public endorsement from a coach who rarely gives them tells you how the Broncos view their staff right now. The offensive and defensive coordinators are both young by coordinator standards — Webb is the youngest play-caller Payton has ever empowered — and both have been hand-picked to extend the team’s window of consistency.
The Broncos ended 2024 as one of the most complete teams in the AFC, and the offseason moves have been about preservation, not disruption. Payton’s decision to delegate play-calling isn’t a sign of retreat. It’s a sign that he finally trusts someone else to carry the bag.
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