Davis Webb Reacts to Playcalling Demotion as Sean Payton Takes Over Amid Broncos Struggles

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton handed over play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb this offseason, but he has taken them back after four games.

On Friday, reporters asked Webb whether a four-game sample size was enough to judge whether a change was needed, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold.

"Luckily that's not my job, that's [Payton's] job," Webb said. "I think he answered that. I think the world of him, how we've gone about it ... it's not ideal, but in the same breath, we're 2-2 in the first four games, our first four opponents were a combined 13-3 to start the season. Welcome to the league."

It's clear Webb isn't happy with the change (and rightfully so), and he added further comments on the matter.

"Any time it happens in any aspect of your life jobwise [there's disappointment], but in the same breath that's the NFL, you get going," Webb said. "Been a backup QB, been up and down before, that's kind of how it goes."

Webb also spoke about what he learned in his four weeks as a playcaller.

In fairness to Webb, the Broncos had a brutal start to the season against the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs, 3-1 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-2 Los Angeles Rams and 4-0 San Francisco 49ers.

The Rams, 49ers and Chiefs are second, third and eighth in fewest yards allowed per play, respectively, per Pro Football Reference. Jacksonville is 29th in that realm, but the Jags have also allowed the second-fewest points per game in the league (13.3).

Denver hasn't enjoyed a great offensive start so far. The Broncos are 27th in scoring and 25th in yards per play. They've been slow-starters all season, scoring just 13 points over four first halves. Denver has done much better in the second halves (61 points).

Quarterback Bo Nix has only passed for 5.8 adjusted yards per attempt (down from 6.4 in 2025) and 204.8 yards per game overall (down from 231.2 the prior year). The run game has been quiet, with rushers combining for 3.6 yards per carry (down from 4.4).

The 2-2 Broncos have treaded water so far, but Payton thought a change was needed now.

We'll see how the switch affects Denver soon enough when the Broncos visit the winless Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

As for Webb, the coaching future should still be bright for him. At just 31 years old, the former backup QB (six seasons) has risen quickly through the Broncos' coaching ranks, first as a QB coach (2023-2024) and then an offensive pass game coordinator in addition to QB coach duties (2025). He received a promotion to OC this offseason.