NFL Report Delivers Major Broncos News; Denver Could Lose Rising Coach

Webb is Denver’s offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, working closely with head coach Sean Payton and second-year quarterback Bo Nix. League insiders told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero they view Webb as a future head coach, and now that belief is reflected publicly in a high-profile national list.

NFL Names Davis Webb a Top Young Candidate in 2026 Hiring Cycle

Pelissero’s annual “young coaches to know” piece focuses on assistants under 45 with no previous NFL head-coaching experience who could realistically land interviews this cycle. Webb fits the template almost perfectly.

A quick snapshot of his rise:

• Playing background: Webb was a 2017 third-round pick by the New York Giants and spent parts of six seasons with the Giants, Jets and Bills as a backup quarterback and trusted locker-room presence. 
• Fast-track into coaching: He joined Payton’s first Broncos staff in 2023 as quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive pass game coordinator/QB coach before the 2025 season, giving him a larger role in game-planning and pass concepts. 
• Preseason audition: Payton even turned play-calling over to Webb in a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals, when Denver’s backups scored 24 points in the first half — a small but telling audition for a bigger future role. 

Pelissero notes that those who know Webb believe it’s a matter of when, not if he becomes an NFL head coach. With the Broncos winning and Webb embedded in the development of a potential franchise quarterback, his name becomes even more attractive to owners searching for the next long-term leader.

What Davis Webb’s Head-Coach Buzz Means for Broncos and Bo Nix

For the Broncos, Webb’s rise is both a compliment and a looming challenge.

On the positive side, it validates the staff that Payton and the front office have assembled. Denver sits at 9-2, in first place in the AFC West, and has ripped off an extended winning streak behind a balanced offense and a resurgent defense.

Webb has become a key voice for Bo Nix, who is in his second NFL season and first full year as the unquestioned starter. In meeting rooms and on the sideline, Webb is the bridge between Payton’s system and the on-field execution, helping Nix handle protections, adjustments and late-game situations. Nix has already delivered multiple clutch drives during the streak, including a game-winning march against the 

If teams start requesting head-coach interviews with Webb in January, Denver faces a few real-world consequences:

• Continuity for Nix: Losing his day-to-day position coach would mean another relationship to rebuild at a critical stage of his development, even with Payton and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi still in place. 
• Staff shuffle: The Broncos do have experienced options on staff, including Lombardi and assistant head coach/run game coordinator Zach Strief, but any change at QB coach/passing-game level would ripple through weekly prep. 
• Perception of the program: From an organizational perspective, having assistants poached for bigger jobs is usually a sign you’re doing things right — but it also means replacing key voices almost every offseason. 

For now, Webb remains locked in on Denver’s playoff push. But the moment the regular season ends, his name is likely to surface on interview lists, and the Broncos may have to prepare for the possibility that their rising offensive mind could be calling plays — and running a locker room — somewhere else in 2026.

Ex-Saints WR Linked To Steelers After Shocking Release

The New Orleans Saints are one of the worst teams in the league this season and they took a few steps toward their rebuild at the trade deadline.

This week, they took another step toward that rebuild. The Saints opted to cut ties with veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks in an attempt to save a bit of money. Cooks is able to sign a deal with any team in the league at this point.

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Bleacher Report's Adam Wells recently suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers could be a potential fit for Cooks in free agency for the rest of the season. The Steelers notably whiffed on other top wide receivers at the trade deadline.

 

Sep 7, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) is tackled by the Arizona Cardinals during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

 

"After being mentioned as a potential trade candidate earlier this month, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks will be able to pick his next destination for the remainder of the season," Wells wrote. "For teams seeking help at wide receiver for the stretch run, Cooks immediately becomes a viable option as soon as he hits the free-agent market. Some of the playoff contenders with an obvious need at wideout include the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.

"The Steelers were all over the receiver market prior to the Nov. 4 deadline, but were unable to make a deal. They reportedly made offers to the Saints for Shaheed and Las Vegas Raiders for Jakobi Meyers that were both turned down. DK Metcalf has been exactly what Pittsburgh wanted when he was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason. No other pass-catcher on the Steelers has more than 300 receiving yards entering Week 12."

The Steelers need one more wide receiver for the stretch run of the season. They would have been a perfect fit for Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline, but they whiffed on him.

Now, adding Cooks would be the perfect fit. He's not going to be a superstar if he signs with the Steelers, but he would fill a valuable role in the team's offense.

The move would be affordable and easy to make. There's very low risk to it, but potentially a decent amount of reward if he plays well.

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