Davis Webb on losing Broncos play-calling: “I take responsibility”

First-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb spoke Friday for the first time since Sean Payton took back play-calling for the Broncos

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Oct 9, 2026, 2:48 PM

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Davis Webb didn’t make excuses, backing Sean Payton and ready to move forward together in order to fix the Broncos offense after the unit’s uneven start.

The first-year offensive coordinator spoke Friday for the first time since Payton took back play-calling, four games into Denver’s season. The Broncos OC took the blame for the lack of points.

“We didn’t put a full game together consistently enough, and I take responsibility for that,” Webb said after practice. “But we all have a hand in this, and hopefully we can get going this weekend a little bit faster.”

Payton announced Thursday that he would call plays starting Sunday at the winless Los Angeles Chargers. Denver is 2-2 and is averaging 18.5 points and 280.3 yards per game.

Webb was prepared for this to happen when he took on the role of Broncos play caller, and he prepared himself for it.

“I have taught myself early to think about the best and worst case scenarios, and if you’re okay with both, then take that job on,” Webb said. “It is what it is. Nothing I can really do about it now. So be the best teammate and offensive coordinator I can be, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Webb echoed that he and Payton talked for about an hour Monday — neither man shared many details other than the head coach sharing the story of when the same switch up happened to him back in 2002 with Jim Fassel and the New York Giants.

“I think for him there was a lot of empathy with our conversation because that did happen to him,” Webb said. “We talked about that for a long time, but at the same breath, it’s a different situation as well.”

Other than that the details were sparse.

“I think that’s a private conversation. We’ll keep it as such,” Webb said. “He made a decision, and that’s his job. He’s the head coach of the football team, and my job now is to do this role even better… I know it (the conversation) wasn’t probably easy for him.”

What might be easy for Payton is calling plays again. Payton has called plays in nearly every game of his head coaching career, and Webb said he’s eager to get back to it.

“I know he’s itching,” Webb said.

As 104.3 The Fan host on Denver Sports Brandon Stokley reported on Wednesday night, the outright change may have less of an impact than outsiders think.

“Sean’s been in there throughout all the game-planning meetings so far this year, and obviously this week we knew he was going to call it,” Webb said. “But nothing really changed, other than knowing on Sunday he’s going to call it.”

He called the system “the Sean Payton offense,” just as he said when he got the job. He said he learned “a ton” in four weeks about sequencing, play selection and game planning.

“Within the four weeks, every week operation was cleaner,” Webb said. “Learned a ton about myself in regards of sending the plays in, getting the plays in early.”

Webb will still run the offensive meetings and help with the quarterbacks. On game days, he’ll stay on the sideline with Payton. He said he never wants to coach from the booth.

“I really enjoy being on the field. I love talking to Jaylen (Waddle) on the bench, or Courtland (Sutton) on the bench, and Bo (Nix) and the offensive line,” Webb said. “I don’t think I’ll ever go up there. I hope I never go up there.”

He said his commitment hasn’t changed.

“I’m all in for him, and I’m all in for everybody in this offensive unit,” Webb said.

We’ll see what effect the change has Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles when the Broncos meet the Chargers.