The Denver Broncos made a bold move just 48 hours after falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, parting ways with offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. On the surface, it’s a surprising decision-this is a team that went 14-3 and came within a game of the Super Bowl. But dig a little deeper, and there’s a clear sense this wasn’t just about performance-it might have everything to do with keeping one of the league’s rising coaching stars in the building.
Enter Davis Webb.
The Broncos’ 30-year-old quarterbacks coach has quickly become one of the most talked-about young minds in the NFL. Despite never holding a coordinator title, Webb has already landed head coaching interviews-most notably with the Buffalo Bills, who ultimately hired Joe Brady.
But the buzz around Webb hasn’t died down. He’s now being linked to the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching vacancy, and that’s where things get interesting for Denver.
Sean Payton seemed to acknowledge the growing interest in Webb during his comments on Tuesday, and the timing of Lombardi’s dismissal feels far from coincidental. This could be a strategic play to keep Webb in Denver by giving him a bigger role-and fast. The Broncos may be trying to make sure they don’t lose a coach widely viewed around the league as a future head man.
So, was this move about firing Lombardi-or about promoting Webb?
If the Raiders are seriously considering Webb for their top job, the Broncos may have countered with a compelling offer: stay here, take over as offensive coordinator for a 14-win team with Super Bowl aspirations, rather than jump to a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in over two decades. That’s not just a promotion-it’s a chance to be the architect of an offense that’s already knocking on the door of greatness.
And if Webb does get the nod as OC, there’s another layer to watch: would Sean Payton hand over the play-calling duties?
That’s a question Broncos fans have been asking since Payton took over. Even with the team’s success, there’s been curiosity about whether Payton might eventually delegate that responsibility-especially if it means keeping a rising star like Webb in the building.
That could be a key part of Webb’s decision-making process. If the Raiders offer him the head coaching job, the Broncos may need to counter not just with a title bump, but with real control over the offense.
Bottom line: Denver’s decision to move on from Joe Lombardi wasn’t just about tweaking the offense-it might’ve been about securing its future. Davis Webb is in high demand, and the Broncos may have just cleared the runway for him to take the next step-right where he is.