Davis Webb on losing Broncos play-calling: “That’s the NFL”

Davis Webb admitted it hurts to lose the Broncos’ play sheet. He also said it comes with the job.

On Friday, the Broncos offensive coordinator spoke to reporters for the first time since Sean Payton announced he was taking back play-calling. Payton made the announcement after practice on Thursday, ending Webb’s run as the play-caller after just four games. Denver is 2-2, and the offense hasn’t gotten going. The Broncos are 28th in the NFL at 280.3 yards per game and 27th at 18.5 points per game.

Sean Payton told Davis Webb about the decision in a meeting on Monday, then confirmed it publicly after Thursday’s practice. “I’ll call the plays,” Payton told reporters. He admitted the decision wasn’t easy. When asked whether it was challenging, Payton said “Yes” twice. Asked whether the change was permanent, he said the focus was only on this week and that he would do “what’s best for the team.”

When Webb was asked on Friday whether losing the job was hard, he didn’t avoid the question.

“Yeah. I think anytime that happens in any aspect of your life, job-wise, it is a little bit,” Webb said.

“But, same breath, that’s the NFL. You get going, been a backup QB, been up and down before, and that’s kinda how it goes.”

Davis Webb knows what it’s like to have a role taken away. He spent seven years as a backup quarterback in the NFL before he got into coaching. That background is a big part of why the Broncos thought so highly of him. Denver fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi in January and promoted Webb from quarterbacks coach. Payton then announced at the Scouting Combine in February that Webb would call plays. Back then, Payton said Webb was “extremely talented” and that he expected him to be “really good” at calling plays.

The offense never got there. Denver scored only 10 points in the season-opening loss in Kansas City. The Broncos then needed second-half comebacks to beat Jacksonville and the Rams, and the offense stalled again in last Sunday’s 24-14 loss at San Francisco.

Davis Webb, 31, isn’t being pushed aside. Reports say he’ll keep a significant role in game-planning and on game day. Payton made it clear the offense belongs to the whole staff. “It’s the Broncos offense,” he said Thursday.

Payton hasn’t called plays since last season’s AFC Championship Game, a 10-7 home loss to the Patriots with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback after Bo Nix broke his ankle in the divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills. His first game back with the play sheet should be a favorable one. The Chargers are 0-4 and allowing 26.5 points per game.

Davis Webb and the Broncos visit SoFi Stadium on Sunday, October 11. Kickoff is at 2:05 p.m. MT.

Related

Davis Webb on losing Broncos play-calling: “I take responsibility”Broncos to place Pat Bryant on injured reserve with ankle sprainSean Payton gets respect from Brandon Stokley after taking back play callingThe challenge Sean Payton faces as one of the NFL’s oldest offensive play-callersJ.K. Dobbins won’t say if he’s 100%, just trying to make playsSean Payton says Bo Nix, like everyone, is ‘disappointed’ Webb experiment didn’t work