Sean Payton's Bold Move: Handing Off Play-Calling to Davis Webb

As the 2026 NFL season kicks off, the Denver Broncos are at a crossroads, and the spotlight is on head coach Sean Payton's unprecedented decision to hand over play-calling duties to his young offensive coordinator, Davis Webb. In an exclusive interview with the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk, Payton opened up about the move that has the league buzzing. "Is it still something I'm working through? Yeah," Payton admitted. "Because I've gotten that same question like 50 times. My older brother (Tom) is like, 'Damn, you're giving up play-calling?' But it has to work."

A Changing of the Guard in Denver

Payton, a Super Bowl-winning coach with a storied career, believes that Webb's fresh perspective and innovative energy are exactly what the Broncos need to elevate their offense, particularly with quarterback Bo Nix under center. "I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was going to help us win," Payton said. "I know it's a big deal because that's all I've done. I think he's ready for it. He's probably quicker. There aren't many things where you are quicker at 62 than you were at 32."

The move comes after a season where the Broncos went 14-3 and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC, only to fall short in the playoffs. Payton is determined to avoid any regression, especially with a brutal schedule ahead. "We don't have time for growing pains here," he emphasized. "We've got to be on point."

Payton's Evolution: From Play-Caller to CEO

Payton, who has called plays for over two decades, is now embracing a new role as a game manager, drawing inspiration from his mentor, Bill Parcells. "Bill's superpower was, 'How do we win this game?'" Payton recalled. "He always thought each game had a different challenge. He said there's a way to win all of them, so that bigger picture is what I'm paying attention to."

Payton also shared a humorous anecdote about installing a life-sized cardboard cutout of Webb in the meeting room, complete with reading glasses, as a playful reminder to keep the game plan manageable. "It was just a message," Payton said. "'Man, we've got a lot of stuff in. I want you to look at yourself when you're installing all this stuff.'"

The Broncos' Super Bowl Aspirations

With an elite defense, a new weapon in receiver Jaylen Waddle, and a balanced roster, Payton is confident about the team's potential. "Man, I like this team," he said. "This team can win a Super Bowl. And this QB can." The Broncos will face a gauntlet of contenders, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, and the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Payton's decision to delegate play-calling is a gamble, but one he believes will pay off. "I'm not going to micromanage that," he said. "Now, we're not going to run off the side of the road here, with the start of our schedule."

Around the League: Donald's Return, Mental Health Initiatives, and Record Sales

In other league news, the Los Angeles Rams made a blockbuster move by bringing back eight-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald to team up with Myles Garrett. The move has Hall of Famers like Bruce Smith buzzing. "If I had another force on the defensive line like an Aaron Donald or Myles Garrett, I'd come back, too," Smith said.

The NFL and NFLPA also launched an expanded Behavioral Health Network to provide players with more mental health resources, a crucial step following the tragic suicides of Marshawn Kneeland and Rondale Moore. "You see players who either from their own perception or they're getting talked to by outside forces saying, 'Hey, maybe not talk to that person in the building' and they will access services elsewhere," Dr. Amber Cargill, the NFLPA's director of wellness services, told Vulius Sports.

Finally, the sale of the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion to the Kholsa family has shattered records, prompting speculation about the Dallas Cowboys' potential value. Sports consultant Marc Ganis believes the Cowboys could command a staggering $25 billion if Jerry Jones ever sold. "That's a joke," Ganis said of a $15 billion valuation. "That's an insult."