Davis Webb’s dream came to a halt on Monday when Broncos coach Sean Payton met with his offensive coordinator to tell him he was stripping him of play-calling duties.
Webb would remain offensive coordinator, but Payton would now hold the reins on Sunday, Payton said.
Was four games enough of a sample size to demote a coach in his first year on the job? Payton clearly thought so.
“Luckily thatap not my job. Thatap his job and I think he answered that,” Webb said after the Broncos’ practice Friday.
Webb’s demotion ends a turbulent eight months. While this outcome was always a possibility — the “worst-case scenario” as Webb described it Friday — it came earlier than most people expected.
Payton pulled the plug after just four games because the results weren’t good enough. The Broncos’ offense has appeared rudderless in far too many games. Several of Denver’s offensive players have said that’s on them. Webb took responsibility for the issues Friday. Regardless, Payton determined Denver’s offensive unit, the group he’s most personally invested in, wasn’t playing at a championship-caliber level.
“I think it was a smaller sample size than maybe you would like for a full season, but within the four weeks — every week, operation was cleaner,” Webb said. “We just didn’t put a full game together consistently enough, and I take responsibility for that; I’m the play-caller. But we all have a hand in this and hopefully we can get going this weekend a little bit faster.”
It’s a tough blow for Webb, who was just a few months ago. His trajectory was clearly ascending in NFL circles as a sharp, young offensive mind. The type of coach the league has fallen in love with.
Now, Webb has been publicly demoted to a figurehead role as offensive coordinator. He will still run the offense’s meetings and will help the quarterbacks during the week, but Payton will communicate with quarterback Bo Nix during games and make the final calls.
“My job now is to do this role and be even better,” Webb said. “Itap on to the next thing. Thatap the NFL.”
Payton said he envisions Webb becoming a head coach someday, but it’s hard to find many examples of failed play-callers eventually getting that role. Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s first season calling plays was with the Tennessee Titans in 2018. The Titans finished 9-7 that year, but their offense ranked 27th in scoring. Green Bay still hired LaFleur a year later. Bruce Arians was let go by the Pittsburgh Steelers after five years as their offensive coordinator, eventually becoming the head coach for the Arizona Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On defense, Mike Vrabel earned a head coaching job with the Titans after one season as the Houston Texans defensive coordinator. Houston’s defense struggled that year, allowing 27.3 points per game, but Vrabel later led the Titans to multiple playoff appearances.
Webb may stay in Denver after the season. A more likely scenario is that he leaves for another job and tries to rebuild his stock.
Despite the demotion, Webb remains “fully engaged,” according to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. He was still seen talking to the quarterbacks and wide receivers during practices this week and was calm and collected during his news conference Friday.
He also addressed how the change would affect his relationship with Nix. The duo share a close relationship and Nix said earlier this season he felt like he was letting Webb down. Payton broke the news of Webb’s demotion to Nix, but the offensive coordinator said he remains “all in” for the Broncos’ young quarterback.
“I’m all in for everybody in this offensive unit, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure everybody’s in a position to be successful,” Webb said.
Webb’s role has changed, but his responsibilities have not disappeared. He’ll still help Nix and the Broncos’ offense get back on track, even if he’s no longer calling plays.
