The Buffalo Bills are turning to a familiar offensive blueprint - one forged in New Orleans - as they bring in longtime Sean Payton disciple Pete Carmichael Jr. to serve as their new offensive coordinator. For a franchise that’s still trying to get over the postseason hump, this hire signals a clear direction: lean into proven offensive minds with deep roots in creative, quarterback-friendly systems.
Carmichael, most recently a senior offensive assistant with the Denver Broncos, reunites with Joe Brady, who was officially introduced as the Bills’ full-time offensive coordinator this week. Brady, who’s stepping into the lead role after serving as the interim OC in 2023, made it clear during his introductory press conference that his coaching philosophy is heavily shaped by his time under Payton and Carmichael in New Orleans.
“I got a master’s degree at Penn State,” Brady said, “but I got a doctorate in New Orleans.”
That wasn’t just a throwaway line. Brady went on to credit Payton - and by extension, Carmichael - for molding the way he sees offensive football.
He spoke glowingly about the creativity, the attention to detail, and the ability to manipulate matchups that defined those Saints offenses. And perhaps most importantly, Brady acknowledged that he wouldn’t be in his current position without the foundation laid during his time in that system.
Now, he’s bringing in someone who helped build that foundation from the ground up.
Carmichael’s NFL Journey: From Tight Ends Coach to Offensive Architect
Pete Carmichael’s coaching résumé is steeped in experience and continuity - two things that are often hard to come by in today’s NFL. He broke into the league in 2000 with the Cleveland Browns as a tight ends coach under Chris Palmer, then spent a year in Washington with Marty Schottenheimer before following him to San Diego, where he worked with the Chargers’ receivers from 2002 to 2005.
But it was his move to New Orleans in 2006 that truly defined his career. Joining Sean Payton’s inaugural staff as quarterbacks coach, Carmichael quickly became a key figure in one of the most explosive and consistent offenses in the league. He was promoted to passing game coordinator in 2007 and then took over as offensive coordinator in 2009 after Doug Marrone left to coach at Syracuse.
From that point on, Carmichael became a staple in the Saints’ offensive machine. Working alongside Payton and quarterback Drew Brees, he helped engineer an offense that consistently ranked among the NFL’s best - not just in the Brees prime years, but even after the future Hall of Famer retired.
In fact, during Carmichael’s first six seasons as OC, the Saints ranked No. 1 in total offense. And even in the post-Brees era, his units remained inside the top 10 in yards more often than not.
That kind of sustained success doesn’t happen by accident. Carmichael’s ability to adapt, scheme, and create matchup advantages is well documented. And now, he brings that wealth of knowledge to a Buffalo team with one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks in Josh Allen.
What This Means for the Bills’ Offense
Brady has already stated he’ll be the play caller in Buffalo, which makes Carmichael’s role more about design, structure, and game-planning - a setup he’s familiar with from his years working under Payton, who called plays in New Orleans. That kind of synergy could be exactly what the Bills need to take the next step offensively.
Buffalo’s offense has shown flashes of brilliance with Allen at the helm, but consistency and adaptability - especially in the postseason - have been elusive. Bringing in a veteran mind like Carmichael, who’s helped build game plans for a Hall of Fame quarterback and navigated multiple offensive evolutions in New Orleans, could provide the kind of behind-the-scenes stability that allows Brady to flourish in his first full season as OC.
And the early reviews are already glowing. One former teammate of both Brady and Carmichael from their 2017 stint in the Saints’ quarterback room called the move “a fantastic hire,” adding that fans should expect plenty of Sean Payton influence in Buffalo’s offense - including more under-center looks and big-play play-action designs that could open up new layers to Allen’s game.
Bottom Line
The Bills aren’t just adding a coach - they’re bringing in a philosophy. Pete Carmichael Jr. has spent the last two decades immersed in one of the most innovative offensive systems in football. Now, he joins forces with a young, ascending play-caller in Joe Brady, who’s eager to lean on that experience as he crafts his own identity.
If this pairing clicks, it could be the key to unlocking the next evolution of the Josh Allen era in Buffalo.