The Buffalo Bills are charting a new course, and Joe Brady is the man at the helm.
After parting ways with Sean McDermott following a nine-year tenure, the Bills have officially handed the keys to Brady-a move that signals both continuity and a fresh perspective. Brady, who’s been with the organization since 2022 and took over offensive coordinator duties midway through the 2023 season, now steps into the top job with the full support of the front office and a staff that reflects both familiarity and calculated change.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just a placeholder promotion. Brady has made swift, decisive moves in assembling his staff.
He brought in Jim Leonhard as defensive coordinator-a respected defensive mind with head coaching experience at the college level-and reunited with Pete Carmichael, who will take over the offense. Carmichael, of course, worked with Brady during their time in New Orleans, and the two share a common language when it comes to offensive philosophy.
That cohesion could be key in maximizing what Buffalo already has in place.
And while the Bills’ offense wasn’t the root of their problems last season, it also wasn’t exactly loaded with elite weapons. Still, Brady managed to guide the unit with poise and creativity, earning the trust of both the locker room and the front office. His familiarity with Josh Allen can’t be overstated-it’s a relationship that already has a foundation, and now has the potential to evolve into something even stronger with Brady steering the entire operation.
Of course, not everyone’s sold. Some national analysts have been quick to slap a low grade on the hire, questioning whether promoting from within is the right move for a team that’s been knocking on the Super Bowl door for years. One particular take labeled the hire as a “D,” suggesting that Buffalo should’ve aimed higher than an internal promotion.
But here’s the thing: the Bills didn’t just promote a guy for the sake of comfort. They promoted a coach who’s already earned the locker room’s respect, understands the nuances of the offense, and has shown he can adapt under pressure. And while Brady brings familiarity, he also brings a new voice-a different energy that could be exactly what this franchise needs after yet another playoff run that ended in heartbreak.
Buffalo has been chasing the same elusive goal for years now. They’ve come close.
They’ve had the talent. But something’s always been just a little off.
This move signals a shift-not a teardown, but a recalibration. Brady represents a bridge between what’s worked and what needs to change.
We won’t know how this plays out until the fall, but for now, the Bills have made a choice that balances stability with innovation. Joe Brady isn’t just a safe pick-he might just be the right one.