Sean Payton confirms he’s calling plays again for Broncos

Sean Payton is calling plays again.

The Denver Broncos head coach said Thursday that he is taking play-calling back from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb. The change starts Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“We’ll make a change offensively,” Payton said in a surprise media availability after practice. “I’ll call the plays.”

Former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley, a host on 104.3 The Fan, first reported the move Wednesday night.

Payton handed play-calling to Webb back in February when it looked like the bright young mind might skip town for a better gig. It was the first time in Payton’s career as a head coach that he had given up the role. Four games later, the Broncos are 2-2 and rank 27th in the NFL in both total offense and scoring offense.

“I’ve done this long enough where I know when I have a future head coach, and he’s going to be one,” Payton said. He added that he told Webb the same thing earlier this week.

Payton recalled how something similar had happened to him early in his career. In 2002, New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel took over play-calling from Payton, who was then the team’s offensive coordinator. Four years later, the New Orleans Saints hired Payton as their head coach.

“Davis is all in with the game plan, just like we’ve been operating,” Payton said. “He’ll be down on the field with me.”

Payton called the change a decision about the whole unit, not one coach.

“As the head coach, no different than evaluating your right tackle, your slot receiver, your running backs,” he said. “It’s the group. So when I met with the offense, it’s about buttoning up all the little things that keep you from sustaining drives.”

Asked what went wrong in the first four games, Payton said “there’d be too many things just to list.” He named the running game first.

“We know we have to improve our balance in running the football,” he said.

When Payton gave up play-calling this offseason, part of his reasoning was getting the calls in quicker and the other was a question he asked about himself: How many good play callers are there at 62? A reporter brought that up Thursday.

“I think I’m still one of them,” Payton said. “That was a good storyline for you guys.”

He said he handed off the job because he “honestly thought it would help us,” and because of how talented he thinks Webb is.

Payton said everyone, Webb included, is disappointed in the offense’s start.

“We’re 2-2, but we feel like there’s more there,” Payton said. He said Webb was “fantastic” when they met and “the approach all week has been fantastic.”

Denver’s offense has struggled from the start. In a 31-10 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City to open the season, the Broncos managed just 176 yards from scrimmage. Last Sunday, they ran for just 82 yards in a 24-14 loss at San Francisco.

The Broncos promoted Webb from quarterbacks coach after firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, who was not calling plays. That came after a 14-3 season that ended in the AFC Championship Game without star quarterback Bo Nix. Webb had interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.

Webb will remain on the field when Denver faces the winless Chargers on Sunday. Payton will be in Nix’s ear, calling out the plays.

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