ESPN: ‘Don’t be surprised’ if a slow Broncos start leads to Payton calling plays

The Denver Broncos made a big change this offseason.

Former offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired and Davis Webb was promoted from QBs coach to the new OC.

Webb had interest around the NFL to make the leap to head coach, so Sean Payton probably felt like a promotion was the best chance to keep him in Denver.

And not only did Webb earn a fancy new title and (presumably) more money, he’ll also call plays for the 2026 Broncos. At least to start.

That was a big step for Payton to give up something that he’s done for a long time. The 62-year-old was open about why he made the change.

Although some around the league believe it might not be permanent.

The Broncos have a brutal schedule to begin the year, opening with the Chiefs, Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Chargers and Seahawks. Getting out of that stretch at 3-3 would be okay, with 4-2 or better feeling great.

But if it doesn’t go well, could Payton take back play-calling duties from Webb? That’s what ESPN’s Ben Solak suggests in a new article on Tuesday. He was exploring top storylines around the NFL heading into training camp and mentioned the Payton / Webb transition.

This nugget near the end will catch people’s attention.

“Webb needs a strong start to the regular season,” Solak writes. “If the Broncos’ offense feels lesser through September and into October, don’t be surprised if Payton reclaims playcalling responsibilities.”

It’s not necessarily a report from Solak, but definitely worth watching. If Denver is 2-4 through six games and Bo Nix and the offense don’t look crisp, Payton might once again call the plays.

Hopefully that’s a moot point. Broncos Country wants to see the team humming, Nix in the MVP conversation and the switch from Payton to Webb be seamless.

However, this is the NFL. A lot of things don’t work out exactly how everyone hopes. And if the Broncos struggle on offense, you can bet this conversation will come up many times during the early part of the season.

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