Days after losing the AFC Championship Game, Sean Payton fired Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. While the position is not as desirable as positions that come with play-calling duties, it appears a favorite has emerged in the Broncos’ coaching search.
According to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is the leading candidate to replace Lombardi.
Webb, who turned 31 in late January, joined the Broncos coaching staff in 2023 following a six-year playing career in the NFL. He was immediately appointed Denver’s quarterbacks coach, first working with Russell Wilson and then proving instrumental in the development of first-round pick Bo Nix.
He was highly sought after during the NFL coaching carousel. The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Las Vegas Raiders all interviewed him for their head-coaching vacancies. He at one point seemed to be a finalist in Las Vegas before the club settled on Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Taking over as the Broncos offensive coordinator is the logical next step in Webb’s coaching career. While many around the league view him as a future NFL head coach, his lack of coaching experience is a real issue. He is also unproven as a play-caller and, at such a young age, is unknown as a leader.
While Webb cannot address the absence of play-calling experience in Denver, more time spent under Payton will help him learn the ropes of becoming a head coach. Denver will give him more operations in the lead-up to games and on game day, a stepping stone to his future roles as head coach. Plus, more time with the Broncos coaching staff can help him find assistants he will want to bring with him when he becomes a head coach.
