At this point, even the most cynical Denver Broncos fan can admit the man who should be the team’s offensive coordinator in 2026 is quarterbacks coach Davis Webb.
That doesn’t mean Webb is going to actually be the offensive coordinator for the Broncos — that’s not the only OC opening in the NFL right now.
That means the Broncos need to have a backup plan, and we got a glimpse into what that might be on Friday.
Denver head coach Sean Payton fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi just days after a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
“Sources: The Broncos requested permission and have now interviewed Commanders assistant HC and offensive passing game coordinator Brian Johnson for their open OC position,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz wrote on his official X account. “Johnson was the Eagles OC during the 2023 season.”
The news comes one day after Webb pulled his name out of the running to become the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Broncos QBs coach Davis Webb plans to withdraw from the Raiders head coaching search and is considered a prime candidate for his current team’s OC job, source says,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on X. “He’s also received several OC requests.”
Johnson Rebuilding Career After Philly Fallout
Johnson, 38 years old, starred at quarterback for the University of Utah then spent 11 years as a college assistant for the Utes, Mississippi State, Houston and was the offensive coordinator for Florida before the Eagles hired him as quarterbacks coach in 2021.
After Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen was hired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following the 2022 season, Johnson was promoted. It would prove to be a disaster and Johnson was fired after one season — one in which the Eagles lost in the NFC Wild Card Round one year after making it to the Super Bowl.
“The (Eagles) offense took a step back in 2023, as Hurts threw a career-high 15 interceptions and the Eagles slipped from third in points per game (28.1) to seventh (25.5), went from ninth in passing (241.5 yards per game) to 16th (225.5), and fell from fifth in rushing (147.6) to eighth (128.8),” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote on January 23. “A source described a disconnect between the visions of Sirianni, Hurts and Johnson, which affected the offense’s ability to land on an identity.”
Broncos Have Won In Spite of Offense
While the Broncos went 14-3 in 2025 on the way to the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs, you can make a good argument they could have easily been 16-1 were it not for the early-season struggles of the offense.
Payton was particularly critical of his team’s wide receivers after the loss to the Patriots, going so far as to say he didn’t think they even knew how to catch the ball properly.
“We’ve got speed, we’ve got size, we’ve got all the things I’m used to, (that) you’d want to have in a good offense,” Payton said. “But I think that there’s a proper way to catch a football and most of the times it’s with your thumbs together. Not the other way around. And the other way around — I’m serious — only exists when the ball is below your belly button. Even the deep balls should be caught with your thumbs together. So we gotta be better at that.”
Broncos Bring in Former NFC Offensive Coordinator for Interview