​PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 4: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rams defeated the Eagles 24-20. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sean Payton and DeMeco Ryans spent the last few days unwinding the exact decision that Sean McVay has refused to make. The head coaches of the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans took playcalling duties back from their coordinators after early-season struggles.The lesson for the Los Angeles Rams is simple: don’t create an unnecessary problem you then must fix in October.Payton handed the Broncos’ offensive keys to Davis Webb in an effort to retain the rising star on the coaching staff. Denver is now 2-2 after making the AFC Championship game last season. Quarterback Bo Nix has just five touchdowns and three interceptions. On Thursday Payton said, “We’ll make a change offensively; I’ll call the plays.” He framed it as instincts and experience. Webb, who last offseason was on the cusp of the head coaching ranks, is now directionless.In Houston, Ryans took defensive playcalling back from Matt Burke following a winless start after four weeks. The Texans were one of the NFL’s best defenses over the last two years. So far they look nothing like themselves. Communication lapses and production worse than their talent level are the main culprits. Burke actually took playcalling responsibilities from Ryans last year after a similar 0-3 start. This year the script has flipped.But does it really matter which man pulls the strings? Teams cannot change schemes overnight. The selection might vary, but the menu is largely still the same. Even if head coaches are not the primary playcaller, they still provide significant input throughout the game. It’s likely a role that garners far more media coverage than it deserves.NFL franchises are not coaching factories. Would it be a positive for the Broncos or Texans if their hot shot coordinators eventually join the head coaching ranks? Of course. Bad teams rarely see their coaches leave for promotions. Greener pastures also help recruit new talent.The Rams don’t pay Sean McVay around $15M annually because he is adept at developing coaches for other teams. They fork over the big bucks because he gives his offense an edge through his scheme and calling the right plays at the right time. Handing over the duties to Nate Scheelhaase because he’s on the head coaching radar would be silly, even if Scheelhaase leaving would net the team two future third-round picks. Payton and Ryans are admitting—very publicly—that the title of head coach does not require surrendering the thing you’re best at. Payton has been a playcaller for the better part of two decades. Ryans built his reputation as a defensive mind. They tried to outsource the job, watched the product suffer, and reclaimed