Play-caller
- Calls plays: Davis Webb, OC — confirmed. Sean Payton announced at the combine (2026-02-24) that Webb will be the primary play-caller in 2026, the first time Payton has ceded play-calling as an NFL HC since 2006. Payton: "I'll still be involved" (ESPN, 2026-02-24; NFL.com; denverbroncos.com staff announcement, Feb 2026).
- Tenure with team: 4th season (Broncos QB coach 2023–25, promoted to OC Feb 2026) · Prior relationship with QB1: Webb has been Nix's position coach for Nix's entire NFL career (ESPN, 2026-02-24).
Last 3 play-calling stops (skip non-calling years):
| Stop (team, yrs) | PROE | Neutral pass% | Sec/play (neutral) | Motion% | PA% | 11 / 12 / 21% | Condensed% | RB tgt share | WR1 TS | Inside-10 pass% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None — first-time NFL play-caller | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| *Mentor prior: DEN 2025, Payton calling* | +1.6% (4th, entering Wk17; Yahoo/ETR via search 2026-07-07) | ~60% (6th; FantasyLife/DraftSharks, 2026-07) | UNVERIFIED (13th in pace; Yahoo, 2025 season) | 39.9% (FTN via nflverse, 2025 incl. playoffs, pulled 2026-07-07) | 24.4% of dropbacks (195/798, FTN via nflverse, same pull) | 56.7 / 12.7 / 10.3% (nflverse participation, 2025 incl. playoffs) | UNVERIFIED | 20.0% (117/584, data/stats/2025/receiving.csv) | 21.2% (Sutton, receiving.csv) | UNVERIFIED |
| *Mentor prior: DEN 2024, Payton calling* | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED |
Read: Webb has never called plays at any level of the NFL — per methodology §9 every tendency here is a low-confidence Payton-system prior, not a Webb track record. The system stays (Payton oversees, same staff tree, run-game coordinator Zach Strief and pass-game coordinator John Morton retained/installed around Webb — 9news/NBC Sports, Feb 2026), so expect the 2025 shape — top-5 PROE, top-3 plays/game, ~60% neutral pass rate, healthy RB targets — with a first-year install drag on pace and aggressiveness early. Payton's stated reason for the handoff was play-call speed/efficiency, which argues against a philosophical shift.
Scheme family
- Run scheme: mixed zone/gap, Payton system (retained run-game coordinator Zach Strief) with heavy 21/22-personnel packages (10.3% / 8.1% in 2025 — nflverse participation) — RB fits: all-purpose backs; both grinders (Dobbins) and space/burst profiles (Harvey) got schemed work in 2025.
- Pass-game family: Payton West Coast — timing-based, RB/TE-friendly, shot plays off run action; healthy slot usage, mid aDOT, RB targets healthy (20.0% RB target share 2025). System continuity under Webb presumed (Payton oversight, staff retained) but low-confidence until he has game tape. Manufactured-touch roles (Mims gadget work) are technically void under a new caller per methodology §2 — though Payton's continued involvement mutes this.
