Many Denver Broncos coaches are looking for promotions around the NFL right now.
Three men were interviewed for head coaching positions, with two more getting looks as coordinators.
Whatever you think of Sean Payton, all these guys getting attention around the league looks good on the head coach himself.
Denver Broncos coaches looking for promotions reflect highly of Sean Payton
Sean Payton has revolutionized the Denver Broncos from the inside out.
The year before he came to the Mile High City, Denver’s team was down in the dumps. Nathaniel Hackett’s terrible leadership showed on the field as the team went 5-11, arguably their worst season ever. Only 2010’s 4-12 season where Josh McDaniels got fired, just like Hackett did, was worse.
But right away, Payton had the Broncos competing. They came within one game of making the playoffs despite Russell Wilson being his quarterback; a guy Payton never liked. Then, they made the postseason for the first time in eight years with a rookie quarterback. And this year, they were the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and within four points of making it to the Super Bowl.
Denver’s way ahead of schedule.
And it’s because of Payton’s leadership.
That can be seen on the sidelines on Sundays, sure.
It’s also evident in the locker room where these players genuinely seem to love one another. They’re fighting together, not fighting each other.
The positivity and togetherness is flowing from the top-down.
Sure, you can even extend that to the ownership group, down to Payton, onto his assistant coaches, and down to the players.
The coaching and camaraderie have led to winning a ton of football games. All while producing arguably the best defense in the NFL the last two years.
And in this results-oriented business, the Broncos coaches have attracted possible promotions for themselves.
Davis Webb likely to be Denver Broncos new offensive coordinator
Davis Webb was one of the Denver Broncos coaches to receive head coaching interviews.
Webb actually had two interviews with the Raiders, and the Bills, but withdrew his name from the Raiders job on Thursday. And the Bills promoted Joe Brady, their former offensive coordinator.
After Payton fired Joe Lombardi, the acting offensive coordinator on Tuesday, it opened up the path for Webb earn his promotion from passing game coordinator/QBs coach.
Denver’s completed interviews for the position with two other coaches, so a decision could be announced any day.
Meanwhile, Denver’s defensive coordinator Vance Joseph interviewed with six teams for their head coaching openings. Only the Cardinals remain without a head coach, but Jonathon Cooper almost let it slip to the media on Monday that Joseph will likely stay in Denver.
Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi also was interviewed for a head coaching position with the Giants, but New York hired John Harbaugh to that post.
Onto Jim Leonhard, who looks to be on his way out of the Mile High City.
The Broncos defensive pass game coordinator is the leading candidate to fill the defensive coordinator position with the Bills and the Ravens. Jesse Minter, the new Ravens head man, said Leonhard can call plays there if he wants.
Jim Leonhard is interviewing with the Ravens today. Would be a huge hire for Minter, who said he would be calling plays, because Leonhard has opportunity to call plays elsewhere. Seems to be between Ravens and Bills now.
— Ted Nguyen (@tednguyen.bsky.social) 2026-01-30T15:39:05.073Z
Leonhard ultimately picked the Bills:
The Bills are hiring Jim Leonhard to be their next defensive coordinator, per source. Buffalo poaches two Denver assistants for its coordinator spots, with Leonhard joining Pete Carmichael. Leonhard's playing career began in Buffalo.
— Dianna Russini (@diannarussini.bsky.social) 2026-01-31T15:37:22.256Z
Finally, Pete Carmichael was also hired by the Bills to be the team’s offensive coordinator.
Of the five coaches who had interviews for promotions elsewhere, it looks like Denver will lose only two.
The other three will likely stay in the Mile High City, which is good news for continuity. Webb, for instance, has been crucial to Bo Nix’s development. And Joseph has been a fantastic play caller on the defensive side for three years under Payton, and seems to have figured out Andy Reid, too.
So, it’s the best of both worlds for Sean Payton.
His coaching tree is continuing to grow, just like it did last year. All while he gets to hold onto his best coaches at the same time.
What Payton has built in Denver is a winning organization chock full of some of the best coaches in the NFL, top-to-bottom.
