Head coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos were dismantled 31-10 by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in their 2026 season opener. Young Broncos quarterback Bo Nix never found a rhythm, finishing 17-of-28 passing for just 131 yards and a touchdown with an interception.
Denver’s offensive struggles were made more notable with Monday’s game marking the first time in Payton’s head coaching career that he didn’t serve as his team’s offensive play caller, duties he relinquished to offensive coordinator Davis Webb after last season. Ahead of Denver’s Week 2 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday NFL Countdown’s Rex Ryan, who called defensive plays during his eight years as an NFL head coach, made it clear he thinks Payton’s play-calling is an asset the Broncos can’t afford to give up.
“I think that’s a mistake,” Ryan said of Webb taking over play-calling duties. “I thought it was a mistake from jump. Sean Payton’s one of the best play callers in the history of our game, and you know who else knows it? His team knows it.”
“Why the hell would you take that away?… Sean Payton’s team knows he’s the best!”
Rex Ryan doesn’t understand why Sean Payton gave up play-calling duties for the Broncos. pic.twitter.com/EPsb9PKPlV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 20, 2026
“So why the hell would you take that away? Look, one of the reasons you got that job, you’ve had the success you’ve had in your career, is because you call the offense. I mean, and look, I had great assistant coaches, don’t get me wrong. Mike Pettine was a hell of a coach. Dennis Thurman, a hell of a coach. My brother, a hell of a coach. But they weren’t as good as me, in my opinion. All right? No, and I’m just saying. And my team believed that. Sean Payton’s team knows he’s the best.”
“Would you do it now?” Tedy Bruschi asked Ryan about Payton reclaiming play-calling duties. “I mean, this was the plan from the offseason.”
“Yes,” Ryan responded.
He concluded, “Sean Payton the synergy around him is the fact you’re getting this great play caller as well as an outstanding head coach.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.