Tony Dungy Issues a Word of Caution to the Bills: “Be Careful What You Wish For”
SAN FRANCISCO - When the Buffalo Bills decided to move on from Sean McDermott and promote Joe Brady to head coach, they made a bold move - one that’s already stirring conversation across the NFL. And Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy has some thoughts. Specifically, a warning.
“Be careful what you wish for,” Dungy said, speaking candidly about the Bills’ coaching change. And when someone with Dungy’s résumé speaks, it’s worth listening.
Dungy knows firsthand what it’s like to be let go after building a contender. He was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite turning the franchise around and leading them to consistent playoff appearances.
His firing opened the door for Jon Gruden, who won a Super Bowl the very next season. So when Dungy talks about the risks of making a change at the top - especially when a team has been consistently competitive - he’s speaking from experience.
Let’s be clear: McDermott wasn’t perfect. But the Bills under his leadership were consistently in the playoff mix, and his regular-season record of 98-50 speaks for itself.
That .662 winning percentage is one of the best in franchise history. He helped transform Buffalo from a perennial also-ran into a legitimate AFC contender.
So why make the change?
That’s the question Dungy is getting at. His concern isn't about Brady’s potential - the young coach has shown promise as an offensive mind - but rather about the challenge of sustaining success after a coaching transition.
“Sometimes you think it’s time for a new voice,” Dungy said. “But you better be sure that voice is ready to take you where you want to go.”
The Bills clearly believe Brady is that voice. After taking over play-calling duties midseason, he helped stabilize the offense and reenergize quarterback Josh Allen.
The chemistry between the two was evident, and it likely played a big role in Brady getting the nod to lead the team. But there’s a big difference between coordinating an offense and running a locker room.
Now, Brady inherits the full weight of expectations - and in Buffalo, those expectations are sky-high.
Dungy pointed to the risk of disrupting continuity. “You can have a great team, great players, but if you don’t have that cohesion, that leadership, it can all fall apart fast,” he said. He knows how fragile the balance is between winning and rebuilding, especially in a league where the margin for error is razor-thin.
This isn’t a knock on Brady - Dungy made that clear. In fact, he acknowledged that the young coach may very well succeed. But the message is more about the bigger picture: when you’re already winning, change can be more dangerous than staying the course.
Dungy’s comments also come at a time when the Bills are reshaping their coaching staff beyond just the head coach. They’ve brought in new defensive minds and are retooling their approach on both sides of the ball. That kind of overhaul can work - but it can also backfire if not handled carefully.
“Sometimes teams think they’re just one move away,” Dungy said. “But if you’re not careful, that one move can set you back instead of pushing you forward.”
For Bills fans, the hope is that Brady is the right move at the right time. He’s young, energetic, and has already shown he can connect with the team’s most important player. But with that comes pressure - and a steep learning curve.
Dungy’s advice isn’t meant to discourage, but to remind: success in the NFL is hard-earned, and easy to lose. The Bills are betting that Joe Brady can take them from playoff regulars to Super Bowl champions. Whether that bet pays off remains to be seen.
But as Dungy said, “You better be sure.”