Sean Payton to Take Back Offensive Play-Calling Duties for Broncos, Report Says

The Denver Broncos are expected to adjust their offensive leadership, with a report from Pro Football Talk affiliate Pro Football Rumors saying head coach Sean Payton will increase his involvement in offensive play-calling moving forward. The change is framed as a response to how the offense has looked to this point, and as a follow-up to Payton’s offseason decision to cede play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb.

According to the report, Payton had initially shown early confidence in Webb’s ability to run the offense in-game. That included the play-calling shift coming out of the offseason, placing Webb at the center of weekly and live-game decision-making on offense. Now, the reported plan is for Payton to reclaim play-calling responsibilities, indicating a more direct coaching hand from the head coach.

The Broncos’ offensive performance has been a central concern in the early portion of the season, and the report ties the anticipated change directly to that broader theme. While the story does not provide specific statistical comparisons or detailed thresholds that triggered the decision, it does characterize Denver’s offense as having struggled to date, and it treats the play-calling change as a tangible adjustment designed to alter that trajectory.

Payton’s move, if it is confirmed through team communications, would also reshape how responsibilities are divided on game days. In most NFL setups, even when an offensive coordinator remains a key architect of the weekly plan, the play-caller typically determines the calls at the line of scrimmage and during critical sequences. A return of play-calling to the head coach would likely concentrate more of that control in Payton’s hands, while Webb’s role would remain important in preparation and overall offensive scheme.

For Denver, the decision carries clear football-rationale weight. When an offense underperforms early in a season, teams often look for ways to reduce execution risk and tighten in-game communication. Changing the play-calling can be an attempt to accelerate that process, particularly if the head coach believes the offense’s operational rhythm or play selection needs to change in real time.

What to watch next is how quickly the Broncos formalize the update and whether the change is reflected in personnel usage and offensive tempo within the same week or next game cycle. Even beyond play selection, the practical impact could show up in third-down structure, red-zone call patterns, and how often the offense leans on specific concepts. Confirmation from the team, alongside any clarification about Webb’s responsibilities, would be the next key development to monitor.

Because the information is currently presented through a rumor report, not an official team announcement, this should be treated as preliminary until verified. Still, the storyline is consistent with an organization reacting to early offensive concerns by altering coaching control, and it sets up an immediate storyline to follow for both fans and opponents in the coming weeks.