The Denver Broncosâ rise to 9-2 might come with a downside. In a new NFL.com breakdown of the 2026 head-coach hiring cycle, Davis Webb is listed among 24 young coaches expected to draw serious interest, putting the 30-year-old Broncos assistant squarely on the leagueâs radar.
Webb is Denverâs offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, working closely with head coach Sean Payton and second-year quarterback Bo Nix. League insiders told NFL Networkâs Tom Pelissero they view Webb as a future head coach, and now that belief is reflected publicly in a high-profile national list.
NFL Names Davis Webb a Top Young Candidate in 2026 Hiring Cycle
Pelisseroâs annual âyoung coaches to knowâ piece focuses on assistants under 45 with no previous NFL head-coaching experience who could realistically land interviews this cycle. Webb fits the template almost perfectly.
A quick snapshot of his rise:
- Playing background: Webb was a 2017 third-round pick by the New York Giants and spent parts of six seasons with the Giants, Jets and Bills as a backup quarterback and trusted locker-room presence.
- Fast-track into coaching: He joined Paytonâs first Broncos staff in 2023 as quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive pass game coordinator/QB coach before the 2025 season, giving him a larger role in game-planning and pass concepts.
- Preseason audition: Payton even turned play-calling over to Webb in a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, when Denverâs backups scored 24 points in the first half â a small but telling audition for a bigger future role.
Pelissero notes that those who know Webb believe itâs a matter of when, not if he becomes an NFL head coach. With the Broncos winning and Webb embedded in the development of a potential franchise quarterback, his name becomes even more attractive to owners searching for the next long-term leader.
What Davis Webbâs Head-Coach Buzz Means for Broncos and Bo Nix
For the Broncos, Webbâs rise is both a compliment and a looming challenge.
On the positive side, it validates the staff that Payton and the front office have assembled. Denver sits at 9-2, in first place in the AFC West, and has ripped off an extended winning streak behind a balanced offense and a resurgent defense.
Webb has become a key voice for Bo Nix, who is in his second NFL season and first full year as the unquestioned starter. In meeting rooms and on the sideline, Webb is the bridge between Paytonâs system and the on-field execution, helping Nix handle protections, adjustments and late-game situations. Nix has already delivered multiple clutch drives during the streak, including a game-winning march against the Kansas City Chiefs.
If teams start requesting head-coach interviews with Webb in January, Denver faces a few real-world consequences:
- Continuity for Nix: Losing his day-to-day position coach would mean another relationship to rebuild at a critical stage of his development, even with Payton and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi still in place.
- Staff shuffle: The Broncos do have experienced options on staff, including Lombardi and assistant head coach/run game coordinator Zach Strief, but any change at QB coach/passing-game level would ripple through weekly prep.
- Perception of the program: From an organizational perspective, having assistants poached for bigger jobs is usually a sign youâre doing things right â but it also means replacing key voices almost every offseason.
For now, Webb remains locked in on Denverâs playoff push. But the moment the regular season ends, his name is likely to surface on interview lists, and the Broncos may have to prepare for the possibility that their rising offensive mind could be calling plays â and running a locker room â somewhere else in 2026.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Report Delivers Major Broncos News; Denver Could Lose Rising Coach appeared first on Heavy Sports.