Broncos Owner Penner Supports Payton's Decision to Give Up Play-Calling

Penner says Payton's choice to hand off offensive play-calling duties to OC Davis Webb was '100 percent' the head coach's decision.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:27pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football field and players, using sharp angles and planes in navy, orange, and white to capture the dynamic energy of the game.Broncos owner Penner's support for Payton's play-calling shift reflects a willingness to evolve and trust the team's coaching staff.Denver Today

Denver Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner expressed full support for head coach Sean Payton's decision to give up play-calling responsibilities on offense, stating that it was Payton's '100 percent' choice to hand those duties over to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. Penner said Payton wanted to do what was 'in the best interest of his team and the Broncos organization'.

Why it matters

Payton has been a play-calling head coach for most of his NFL career, so this represents a significant shift in his approach. The move suggests Payton trusts Webb, a rising young coordinator, to take over the offense and potentially groom him as a future head coaching candidate.

The details

Payton decided to relinquish his play-calling responsibilities to Davis Webb, Denver's new offensive coordinator, after previously handling those duties himself. Penner said the decision was '100 percent' Payton's and that the head coach wanted to do what was best for the team.

  • Payton made the decision to give up play-calling duties this offseason.

The players

Greg Penner

The owner and CEO of the Denver Broncos.

Sean Payton

The head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Davis Webb

The new offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, promoted from within the organization.

Joe Lombardi

The former offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, who was let go this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“I think Sean always wants to do what's in the best interest of his team and the Broncos organization. He and I obviously talked about it, but this was entirely, 100 percent his decision. And I think it's going to be, again, we've got a lot of confidence in Davis and I think Sean's going to be very supportive of him.”

— Greg Penner, Owner and CEO, Denver Broncos

What’s next

The Broncos will be closely watched this season to see how the new play-calling dynamic between Payton and Webb works, and whether it helps the team's offense take the next step.

The takeaway

Payton's decision to hand over play-calling duties to a younger, up-and-coming coordinator like Webb shows his willingness to evolve as a head coach and trust in the abilities of his staff. This move could pay dividends for the Broncos' offense in 2023 and beyond.