In the NFL coaching carousel, withdrawals from head coaching consideration happen all the time-but rarely do they come with this much drama. The Las Vegas Raiders were on the receiving end of one such twist when Denver Broncos passing game coordinator Davis Webb pulled his name from their search.
At first glance, it seemed like a routine move. But then Broncos head coach Sean Payton added a little spice-and suddenly, things got interesting.
Payton didn’t exactly hold back when asked about Webb potentially jumping ship to a division rival. He called the idea of Webb coaching in the AFC West-against him-a “pain in the [backside].”
Now, in the world of NFL coaching etiquette, that’s not something you hear every day. Sure, friendly jabs happen, but this felt different.
It raised eyebrows, and for good reason.
Let’s unpack what might be going on here.
If Webb had taken the Raiders job, he wouldn’t just be facing Payton twice a year. He’d also be squaring off with Jim Harbaugh, now in charge of the Chargers, and the ever-formidable Andy Reid in Kansas City.
That’s a gauntlet of coaching minds, and it’s no small ask for a young offensive coordinator-turned-head-coach to navigate. But Payton’s comments seemed less about the challenge and more about keeping one of his own from leaving the building.
That theory gained traction when Payton made some surprising moves of his own. Earlier this week, he fired three assistant coaches-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch.
The timing? Curious.
The Broncos had a solid season. These weren’t the kind of sweeping changes you usually see after success.
So what gives?
Well, if Payton is clearing the runway for Webb to take over as offensive coordinator, this might have been his way of making it happen. Instead of letting Webb walk into a head coaching gig, he may have nudged him toward staying in Denver-by making the Raiders job look a little less appealing and opening up a high-profile spot on his own staff.
Lombardi, for his part, didn’t exactly pour water on the fire. He reportedly told NFL.com that Payton was in “one of those moods” when the changes came down.
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of a calculated, strategic decision. It sounds more like a coach following his gut-and maybe trying to keep his inner circle intact.
As for Webb, Payton, and the Broncos? Radio silence. No one’s come forward to explain the moves, and at this point, it doesn’t look like they will anytime soon.
Meanwhile, the Raiders are moving on. They’re set to interview Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and all signs point to that being the final step in their coaching search. The franchise has already announced it plans to wrap things up after the Kubiak interview, which suggests they might be eyeing a post-Super Bowl announcement-perhaps waiting until Kubiak’s playoff obligations are over.
One thing’s for sure: when the Raiders and Broncos meet next season, the sideline storylines are going to be just as compelling as anything happening between the lines.