Pete Carmichael Joins Joe Brady’s Staff in Buffalo: A Full-Circle Reunion with Big-Time Potential
ORCHARD PARK - When Joe Brady first started out in the NFL, he wasn’t even coaching a position. He was a young assistant in New Orleans, soaking up everything he could from one of the league’s most respected offensive minds, Saints coordinator Pete Carmichael. Fast forward eight years, and the tables have turned - Brady is now the head coach in Buffalo, and he’s bringing Carmichael aboard to help steer the Bills’ offense.
But this isn’t just a feel-good reunion. It’s a calculated move rooted in mutual respect, shared philosophy, and a history of working within high-level offensive systems.
Brady and Carmichael go back to a pivotal offseason in 2018, when Carmichael was invited to speak to Ed Orgeron’s LSU coaching staff about red zone strategy. Orgeron also asked for someone to talk about run-pass option concepts - and Carmichael tapped Brady for the job.
What happened next left a lasting impression.
“We went down to LSU, I did my little bit, the pro personnel guy did his thing, and then Joe gets up,” Carmichael recalled. “Next thing you know, the whole building’s in there listening to him.
I was taking notes myself. You knew right then - this guy was going to be something special.”
Brady remembers it just as vividly. “I didn’t treat it like an interview, but I knew it was a chance to be in front of some of the best minds in the game,” he said.
“Afterward, Pete looked at me and said, ‘That guy’s probably going to hire you soon.’ I laughed it off - but here we are.”
That moment helped launch Brady’s meteoric rise. He joined LSU in 2019 as the passing game coordinator and helped engineer one of the most explosive offenses in college football history, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Justin Jefferson. A year later, he was back in the NFL with the Panthers, then moved on to Buffalo in 2022 - first as quarterbacks coach, then offensive coordinator, and now head coach.
And now, in a full-circle twist, he’s brought Carmichael to Buffalo to help lead the offense. For Brady, this isn’t just about bringing in a veteran name - it’s about bringing in someone who can truly help shape the vision.
“Some people think a non-play-calling offensive coordinator is just there to assist,” Brady said. “That’s not what I was looking for, and that’s not who Pete is.
He prepares like he’s calling the game. He takes ownership.
He leads. And that’s what I need - someone who can keep the train moving when I’m not in the room.
I’ve seen him do it before.”
Working with Josh Allen: “I’m Fired Up”
Carmichael spent 15 years working with Drew Brees in New Orleans, helping orchestrate one of the most consistent and prolific offenses in the NFL. Now, he gets to work with another elite quarterback in Josh Allen - and he’s not hiding his excitement.
“All those years with Drew, I was a good coach,” Carmichael said with a grin. “Now I get to work with Josh? I’m fired up.”
Carmichael knows what it’s like to coach a quarterback who can elevate the play around him. And with Allen, it’s not just about arm talent - it’s the improvisation, the mobility, the ability to turn a broken play into a highlight reel moment.
“Not every play call is going to be perfect,” Carmichael said. “But Josh can make something out of nothing.
He can extend plays, he can run, he can fire a laser 30 yards downfield. There’s just so much to work with.”
Rebuilding the Receiver Room: Fit Over Flash
One of the biggest storylines in Buffalo last season was the inconsistency at wide receiver. Carmichael, coming from Denver, saw firsthand how a diverse group of receivers - each with a defined role - can make an offense click, even when the quarterback play isn’t perfect.
In Denver, the Broncos had a mix of physicality (Courtland Sutton), speed (Troy Franklin), and savvy route runners (Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant). The result? A top-11 passing offense, despite some ups and downs under center.
Carmichael’s philosophy is clear: tailor the offense to the strengths of your personnel.
“Each receiver brings something different to the table,” he said. “Not everyone’s going to run every route perfectly.
Maybe one guy thrives in the slot, another on the boundary. The key is putting them in positions to succeed - not forcing a square peg into a round hole.”
That approach could be exactly what the Bills need as they look to retool their receiving corps this offseason.
Unlocking James Cook’s Receiving Potential
James Cook just led the NFL in rushing, but there’s a sense around Buffalo that his game still has another level - especially as a pass catcher. Cook caught just 33 passes last season, a modest number given his explosiveness in space.
Carmichael knows what it looks like when a running back becomes a true dual threat. He spent years coaching Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, watching him rack up nearly 5,000 receiving yards to go along with over 7,000 on the ground.
So, can Cook be that kind of weapon?
“I think part of it is just giving him the opportunities,” Carmichael said. “You’ve got to build it into the game plan.
Sometimes the matchups inside - with your backs and tight ends - are more favorable than what you’re getting outside. It varies week to week.
But we’ve got to make sure there are enough touches in there for him.”
That’s the kind of detail-oriented thinking Brady was looking for in an offensive coordinator. Someone who’s not just drawing up plays, but building a system - one that adapts to the players, not the other way around.
What It All Means for Buffalo
This hire isn’t about nostalgia or comfort. It’s about vision. Brady and Carmichael are cut from the same cloth - both steeped in the Saints’ offensive DNA, both believers in preparation, adaptability, and maximizing talent.
Brady’s rise has been rapid, but he’s made it clear he’s not trying to do it all himself. Bringing in Carmichael gives the Bills a second offensive mind with a wealth of experience, someone who can help keep Allen operating at an elite level, unlock more from Cook, and reshape a receiving corps that needs a fresh approach.
It’s a reunion years in the making - and one that could pay big dividends in Buffalo.