Bills Tapping into Familiar Roots as Joe Brady Brings in Pete Carmichael as Offensive Coordinator
The Buffalo Bills are wasting no time reshaping their coaching staff under newly promoted head coach Joe Brady. And in his first major move, Brady is turning to a familiar face: Pete Carmichael is set to become the team’s offensive coordinator.
While the deal hasn’t been officially inked yet, the agreement is in place, and the connection makes a lot of sense. Carmichael, 54, brings nearly three decades of NFL coaching experience to the table, including a long tenure as Sean Payton’s right-hand man in New Orleans. That’s where his path first crossed with Brady, who worked as an offensive assistant with the Saints during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
For Brady, who at just 36 is stepping into his first head coaching job, this is more than just a reunion-it's a strategic move. Carmichael’s deep understanding of Payton’s offensive system, which Brady has openly credited as foundational to his own coaching philosophy, gives the Bills a coordinator who speaks the same language as the head coach.
Brady has even said his time in New Orleans was like earning a “doctorate” in offensive football. Now, he’s bringing in one of the professors.
Carmichael’s résumé is as steady as they come. He’s been in the NFL since 2000, starting with the Browns as a tight ends coach before joining the Saints and eventually becoming their offensive coordinator in 2009-a role he held through 2023.
Most recently, he spent the past two seasons in Denver as a senior offensive assistant under Payton again. But with the Broncos making changes after a 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game-firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert-Carmichael became available.
And now, he’s heading to Buffalo, where he’ll be tasked with helping Brady guide an offense led by Josh Allen. While Carmichael will carry the coordinator title, Brady has already made it clear: he’s keeping the play-calling duties.
That’s a notable decision, especially considering how much trust and responsibility typically comes with the OC role. But it also speaks to the dynamic Brady is building-one where he remains hands-on with the offense while surrounding himself with seasoned voices like Carmichael’s.
There’s still plenty of work left on Brady’s to-do list. The Bills need a new defensive coordinator after Bobby Babich took the same role in Green Bay.
Special teams is also a question mark with Chris Tabor heading to Miami. But this first hire sends a strong message: Brady is building his staff with purpose, leaning on experience and familiarity to create a cohesive coaching unit.
For a team that just made a major shift at the top, bringing in a veteran like Carmichael to support a young head coach is a move that blends stability with continuity. And in Buffalo, where expectations remain sky-high, that kind of balance could be exactly what the Bills need.