ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Davis Webb will serve as the Denver Broncos’ primary playcaller after being promoted to offensive coordinator earlier this offseason, a change put in place by head coach Sean Payton following the AFC Championship Game loss. Webb, 31, moved up from passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Payton, who called plays for most of his 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints and had been the Broncos’ exclusive playcaller for three regular seasons, turned over playcalling duties as part of an end-of-season review, the coach said. The move followed Denver’s 10-7 defeat to the New England Patriots, a game in which the Broncos managed just 32 second-half yards with Jarrett Stidham starting after starter Bo Nix fractured his right ankle the week before.
The coach promoted Webb to replace Joe Lombardi and granted him the playcalling reins, a decision that helped keep Webb in Denver after he drew interest for head-coaching and coordinator openings elsewhere, the team said. Webb previously called plays for Payton in a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, when the Broncos gained 562 yards.
Webb said the offense will remain fundamentally in the Sean Payton system with minor adjustments. He added that he, Payton and the offensive staff reviewed two seasons’ worth of game-day tape — including games with Nix as a starter — to identify what worked and what did not. The staff has emphasized increasing the overall offensive pace and eliminating mistakes during offseason work.
The roster changes were visible in practice this week, when backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham connected with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, whom the Broncos acquired from the Miami Dolphins in March in a three-pick deal that included Denver’s first-round selection from this past draft. Payton said Webb’s experience with the system and with the current players provides continuity as the team moves forward, while Webb stressed teaching the installations, breaking the huddle efficiently and allowing the quarterback to see the game.
