The Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching search has taken more twists than a fourth-quarter comeback - and it's far from over. After missing out on John Harbaugh, the Falcons are still trying to find the right leader to steer the franchise forward.
The first round of interviews is wrapping up, but clarity remains elusive. What once looked like a straightforward process has quickly turned into a high-stakes chess match, with no clear frontrunner emerging.
One name now firmly in the mix: Joe Brady, the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator. According to reports, the Falcons are set to interview Brady on Sunday as part of their final round of first-wave interviews.
The timing raises eyebrows, considering the Bills are suiting up for a playoff matchup against the Broncos that same afternoon. With Buffalo preparing to face one of the league’s toughest defenses on the road, any distraction - even a potential head coaching opportunity - could be less than ideal.
Still, it’s a significant development for Atlanta. Brady, just 36, has quietly built one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses in Buffalo.
In his first full season calling plays, the Bills went 13-4, and Josh Allen captured his first NFL MVP award - a testament to both player and play-caller. Over his two seasons as OC, the Bills finished with the No. 2 and No. 4 scoring offenses in the league.
That’s not just good - that’s elite.
Dig a little deeper, and Brady’s impact becomes even more impressive. This season, the Bills ranked third in the NFL in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play - a key advanced metric that measures overall offensive efficiency.
And they did it without a stacked arsenal of weapons. Outside of running back James Cook, Buffalo’s offense wasn’t exactly loaded with top-tier talent.
Yet Brady kept the unit humming, crafting game plans that leaned into Allen’s strengths while maximizing every ounce of production from the supporting cast.
Brady’s coaching résumé stretches beyond Buffalo. He made a national name for himself as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for the 2019 LSU Tigers - one of the most dominant college football teams in recent memory.
That offense, led by Joe Burrow and featuring future NFL stars like Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, was a juggernaut. Brady won the Broyles Award that year, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, and it vaulted him into NFL conversations as one of the brightest young minds in the game.
Of course, the big question surrounding Brady’s candidacy is whether his success is tied too closely to elite quarterback play. At LSU, he had Burrow.
In Buffalo, he has Allen. That’s not a knock - great coaches often work with great players - but it does raise the question: Can he build a sustainable offense without a generational talent under center?
That’s the calculated risk Atlanta would be taking. But in a league that’s increasingly driven by offensive innovation, Brady brings a modern, quarterback-friendly approach that could help unlock the Falcons’ potential - especially if the front office can find its answer at QB.
For now, the Falcons’ coaching search remains wide open. But as the first round of interviews wraps up, Joe Brady is a name worth watching. He may not be the obvious choice, but he could be the bold one - and sometimes, that’s exactly what a franchise needs.