Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are now on the fast track to an outcome that they were desperately hoping to avoid going into the season.

Payton confirmed this week that he’s taking play-calling duties back from offensive coordinator Davis Webb after the offense struggled to score over the first four weeks of the season.

Webb took over play-calling duties this past offseason.

There were two reasons that Payton, who has always called plays as a head coach (outside of a stretch in 2011 with the New Orleans Saints when Pete Carmichael Jr. called plays), handed over play-calling to Webb.

One reason is because Payton felt like he wasn’t as quick at calling plays as he was when he was younger.

The other reason is because Payton and the Broncos think highly of Webb, who is generally viewed as a rising star in the coaching business, and handing over play-calling duties helped prevent Webb from leaving for another job this past offseason.

Essentially, Denver didn’t want to lose Webb.

There’s a really good chance that Payton’s decision this week to take play-calling duties back, though, will lead to Webb leaving after the 2026 season.

“To keep Webb from leaving for a play-calling OC role, Payton fired longtime collaborator Joe Lombardi as OC and offered the gig – and play calling – to Webb, who had served as the offensive pass game coordinator in Denver,” noted The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones this week. “Webb opted for continuity and the chance to call plays in a familiar system over blazing a trail elsewhere. Webb is keeping his title as offensive coordinator and continues his work during the week, but this is a demotion in job duties. When play callers on either side of the ball are stripped of those duties, it is rare they get them back the next year.”

Jones also pointed out that some around the league question how much Webb was able to call “his own stuff” over the first four weeks of the season.

“A second league source pointed out how involved Payton has been in game planning throughout the week,” wrote Jones. “They wondered how much of Webb’s own stuff he was able to call against defenses that rank No. 2, No. 3, No. 6 and No. 9 in points allowed this season.”

There’s still a lot of season left — we don’t know exactly how this will all play out — but at this point, it would be a surprise if Webb is back in Denver in 2027.

Payton made the move he had to make by taking play-calling duties back. I think it was the right move, but it’s probably going to cost the Broncos an up-and-coming coach.