Joe Brady’s Coaching Future Hangs in the Balance as Bills and Steelers Reshape Their Staffs
Joe Brady is once again in the mix during the NFL’s head coaching carousel-but this time, the stakes feel different. After stepping in as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season, Brady has found himself right in the thick of the conversation for a top job. He’s interviewed with the Ravens, Cardinals, Raiders, and-most intriguingly-the Bills themselves, following the stunning dismissal of head coach Sean McDermott.
While Baltimore has already locked in Jesse Minter as their next head coach, the rest of the field remains open. That leaves Brady’s best shot at a head coaching role potentially sitting right where he already is: in Buffalo. And he’s got more than just familiarity on his side.
Brady’s work with Josh Allen over the past season and a half has been a key part of the Bills’ offensive resurgence. He’s helped guide Allen through a stretch of football that’s been both explosive and efficient, and that chemistry could be a major factor in Buffalo’s decision-making. But as we’ve seen time and time again in this league, nothing is set in stone-especially when it comes to coaching hires.
If the Bills decide to bring in a new head coach from outside the organization, Brady’s future in Buffalo becomes murky. A new regime might want to bring in its own staff, which could leave Brady on the outside looking in. Even if he’s offered a chance to stay, he may choose to move on if he’s passed over for the top job.
That opens the door to several possibilities, and one of the more intriguing ones is in Pittsburgh.
With Arthur Smith leaving the Steelers to take the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State, Pittsburgh suddenly has a vacancy at OC. And Brady’s name has already surfaced as a potential replacement. According to a recent report, he’s considered a top candidate should he become available.
It’s easy to see why. Brady is a rising offensive mind who’s shown he can elevate a franchise quarterback and adapt quickly in high-pressure situations. That kind of résumé is going to attract attention-especially from a team like the Steelers, who are still searching for an identity on offense.
But here’s where things get complicated. Pittsburgh’s offensive situation is far from ideal.
They don’t have a clear answer at quarterback, and their recent offensive struggles have been well-documented. For Brady, jumping from Buffalo-where he has a top-tier QB and familiarity with the system-to a team still figuring out its offensive direction would be a risky move.
There’s also the matter of coaching philosophy. With the Steelers expected to hire an offensive-minded head coach in Mike McCarthy, it’s unclear how much autonomy Brady would have in designing and calling plays.
In Buffalo, he had the benefit of working under a defensive head coach in McDermott, which gave him more room to shape the offense. That dynamic might not exist in Pittsburgh.
So where does that leave Brady?
He’s in a unique spot. If the Bills promote him to head coach, he stays put and continues building on the foundation he’s laid with Josh Allen. If they go in a different direction, he’ll have to weigh his options-whether that means staying on as OC, pursuing another coordinator role elsewhere, or taking a year to reset.
One thing is clear: Brady is a name to watch. Whether it’s in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, or somewhere else entirely, he’s earned a seat at the table in the NFL’s coaching conversation. Now it’s just a matter of who’s ready to give him the keys.