SAN FRANCISCO, California — A knowing smile flashed across Garett Bolles’ face at the simple mention of the name “Davis,” the offensive wunderkind with a new role but uncertain responsibilities in Denver’s building. Bolles, the Broncos’ rugged left tackle, is 33 years old. A full two yea rs older than the 31-year-old Davis Webb. Both were drafted in 2017: Bolles, a first-round offensive lineman, Webb, a third-round quarterback. Fast-forward to the present , and Bolles is about to play a 10th NFL season with Webb as his new offensive coordinator in Denver. So what of the possibility that Sean Payton could hand over the play-calling reins to Webb, too? “It’d be awesome, man,” Bolles said Monday after the AFC’s Pro Bowl practice, grinning. “DW is the best. We love him. I’m excited to see what he can do for us.” On Monday, nearly 1,000 miles away from a rapidly-changing facility in Denver, the Broncos’ best and brightest gathered at the Moscone Center in San Francisco for a couple of days of Pro Bowl festivities and basking in football regality. Bolles was having more fun than anyone, palling around with fellow Pro Bowl contemporaries and snapping the ball during the AFC’s walkthrough. Receiver Courtland Sutton caught a few half-speed passes from former Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco, now a veteran with the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive lineman Zach Allen played in an afternoon Dodgeball game and accidentally beaned another Pro Bowl lineman in the face. Still, widespread mirth masked an unmistakable melancholy. All of them wished they were in the Bay Area for a few days longer, a week after an AFC title-game loss to New England that ended their season short of a Super Bowl. “I just try to avoid the Super Bowl ads and everything as much as possible,” Allen told The Denver Post. “Every time (I) see it, I get pretty upset. Maybe after the game, I’ll calm down a little bit.” Aftershocks from that Patriots loss have rippled through the Broncos’ staff. Denver fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael and defensive passing-game coordinator Jim Leonhard left for jobs with the Buffalo Bills. But Denver has ensured a couple of key coaching retentions, as Payton officially hired Webb as his OC Monday — in a move that could signal Payton is ready to pass off play-calling duties for the first time in an 18-year head-coaching career. Broncos lifers are on board. Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) is congratulated by assistant coach Davis Webb after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) “Whatever happens, happens,” Sutton told The Post when asked about Webb potentially being his play-caller. “I love Davis, and so if he gets the opportunity to call the plays — I think he has the heartbeat of the offense. And so everybody’s going to enjoy having him, if that is what winds up happening.” The Broncos, too, will all but surely see Vance Joseph back as defensive coordinator in 2026. After two straight seasons in command of the NFL’s No. 3 defense, the league’s head-coaching carousel spun through 10 jobs without any team hiring Joseph. “Selfishly, I’m not (upset),” outside linebacker Nik Bonitto told The Post, “because I love VJ. And I love having him be my DC. But, no, his time will come soon, for sure.” It’s slightly bittersweet. Joseph was one of the NFL’s hottest coaching names at the start of the cycle, and received interview requests from six of seven initial teams with head-coach openings. But interest quickly fizzled, and Joseph was left on the outside looking in again. Not a single Black candidate was hired this cycle. “He deserves it,” Allen said. “I mean, he would make an incredible head coach. He’s a leader of men. Like, he checks every single box. I don’t know what the teams are looking for. “But for us, it’s good news,” Allen continued. “So we’ll take it, however it plays out. So, yeah. He definitely deserves a shot. But the fact that we get to steal another year of him, we’ll take it.” Related Articles Among Broncos veterans Dre Greenlaw, Evan Engram, J.K. Dobbins, which player would you want back? Broncos promote quarterbacks coach Davis Webb to offensive coordinator Colorado prep sports stars take flag football skills to NFL’s Pro Bowl Games Broncos’ Vance Joseph appears left out of head coach cycle — and that’s a shame | Journal Broncos secondary coach Jim Leonhard leaving for Buffalo DC job, source says Allen called Joseph “the top assistant coach in football,” and he and Bonitto both lauded the benefit of continuity for Denver’s defense under Joseph in 2026. “I know all the defensive guys are excited,” Bonitto said of Joseph’s return, “so it’s going to be really good.” With Webb and Joseph entrenched, Denver will now turn its attention to free agency, needing to make decisions on a slew of key in-house free agents. And just the same as with staff, players continue to advocate for retention in the building, as the Broncos try to build past a No. 1 seed and a sudden end to 2025. “I think getting Nik signed, getting Zach signed, myself getting signed — I think getting those guys signed was huge,” Sutton said. “And I think we’re going to have another big offseason of signing guys back that helped us, and will continue to help us.” Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis. ...read more read less