We’re learning more by the day about the details behind Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton’s decision to give new offensive coordinator Davis Webb a chance to call plays, and according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane had an “inadvertent” but vital role in the process of revealing it.
Volin writes a weekly NFL column that’s a must read, and he talked about the change in one section of this week’s edition.
According to Volin, Payton put what the writer called a “good face on it,” but he wasn’t “thrilled” that Beane revealed the news that Webb will be taking over play-calling duties this season. Presumably Beane learned about this change at least in part based on his interview with Webb for the Bills’ head coaching position, which eventually went to Buffalo offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
“I saw him in the hallway. I thought, ‘You can come on, you can do my presser, too,’” Payton said.
The comment is typical of Payton’s wry sense of humor, but Volin also included more intriguing details in his writeup. Going beyond Payton’s generic comments about the move being made to help the team win, the writer hinted that this opportunity was based on Webb having what Volin called the “juice” to negotiate for play-calling opportunities in his contract.
According to a source in Denver, Volin added, Webb turned down more money from the Philadelphia Eagles to become their offensive coordinator, which makes sense given the chaos that seemed to be part and parcel of the Eagles' offense in 2025. Instead, Webb opted to stay in Denver, but only if he was given the reins to call plays.
This aligns with the other comments Volin made, which is that Payton comes with a bit of a shelf life. He has “a tendency to wear people out” according to the writer, which was reflected to at least some extent in the coach’s chaotic first season with quarterback Russell Wilson, followed by an up-and-down stretch with Wilson’s de facto replacement, Bo Nix, that included Payton revealing some personal details about Nix’s medical history.
Payton also wore out his relationship with multiple member of his coaching staff, as he suddenly fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. It will be interesting to see what happens if Webb struggles as a play-caller early on, and a the possibility of Payton switching back to his old role would give us a good idea of exactly how the contract language in this transition might have been worded.