With the Broncos officially out of the playoff picture, the coaching carousel is spinning faster - and one name that’s quickly gaining traction might not be the one many expected.
While defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was widely assumed to be the Broncos assistant most likely to draw immediate interest, it’s actually passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Davis Webb who’s generating serious buzz. And not just as a rising assistant - Webb is already in the mix for head coaching gigs.
According to league sources, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to meet with Webb this week as they search for their next head coach. The Buffalo Bills are also in line for a sit-down now that the Broncos’ season has concluded. Both teams are reportedly eager to get a closer look at the 29-year-old coach, whose stock has skyrocketed since joining Sean Payton’s staff in Denver.
Webb, a former third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, spent time with the Giants, Jets, and Bills before hanging up his cleats after the 2022 season. He didn’t stay away from the game for long.
When Sean Payton took over in Denver, he was so impressed with Webb’s interview that he literally had the car taking Webb back to the airport turn around - he didn’t want to let him leave without a deal in place. That decision is looking smarter by the day.
Webb played a pivotal role in the development of rookie quarterback Bo Nix over the past two seasons. Nix’s growth, poise, and command of Payton’s offense didn’t happen in a vacuum - Webb was a key architect behind the scenes, helping translate Payton’s complex system into something a young quarterback could digest and execute. Around the Broncos building, Webb is viewed as a future head coach - and that future may be arriving faster than anyone anticipated.
The Raiders’ job presents a fascinating opportunity. They hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft and are widely expected to select Heisman winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza.
Pairing a young, offensive-minded coach like Webb with a top quarterback prospect is a formula that’s worked before across the league. Add in dynamic weapons like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty, and there’s a foundation for a potent offense - one that Webb could mold in his vision, much like he did with Nix in Denver.
The Bills, meanwhile, offer a very different but equally appealing scenario. Instead of developing a rookie, Webb would get to work with one of the league’s elite quarterbacks in reigning MVP Josh Allen.
The two already have a strong relationship from Webb’s time as a backup in Buffalo, and that familiarity could be a major asset. With Allen in his prime, the Bills are still in win-now mode.
Webb’s challenge would be to maximize what’s already there - to elevate Allen’s game even further and finally push Buffalo over the Super Bowl hump.
As for Vance Joseph, things have gone quiet. Once considered a top candidate for the Cardinals’ head coaching job, recent reports suggest Arizona may be heading in another direction. Joseph is now eligible for in-person interviews, so we’ll see if the Cardinals circle back or if another opportunity emerges.
But the headline here is Davis Webb. In just two years, he’s gone from a recently retired backup to one of the hottest names in the coaching world. Whether it’s Vegas, Buffalo, or another team entirely, Webb’s rapid rise is a reminder of how quickly things can change in the NFL - and how talent, preparation, and the right opportunity can align to launch a new era.