Tony Dungy Sends a Message to the Bills: "Be Careful What You Wish For"
SAN FRANCISCO - Tony Dungy knows a thing or two about getting fired in the NFL. And when he sees what’s happening in Buffalo, he’s got a pointed message for the Bills organization: tread carefully.
The Hall of Fame coach, who was let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2001 season despite a strong run of success, sees some parallels in how the Bills parted ways with Sean McDermott. Speaking during Super Bowl week, Dungy didn’t hold back when asked about Buffalo’s decision to promote Joe Brady to head coach after firing McDermott.
“You think you’re close, and you think one more move is going to get you over the top,” Dungy said. “But sometimes, that one move sets you back five years.”
Dungy’s warning isn’t just rooted in theory - it comes from personal experience. He was fired after leading Tampa Bay to four playoff appearances in six seasons. The Bucs did go on to win the Super Bowl the following year under Jon Gruden, but Dungy’s point is about the long-term health of a franchise, not just one magical season.
“You’ve got to be careful not to chase something that’s already working,” Dungy added. “Continuity matters. Culture matters.”
McDermott’s run in Buffalo was one of the most successful in franchise history. Hired in 2017, he led the Bills to a 98-50 regular-season record and brought stability to a team that had been searching for it for nearly two decades. He turned around a culture, developed Josh Allen into one of the league’s premier quarterbacks, and made the playoffs in six of his seven seasons.
But after a string of playoff disappointments - including this year’s divisional-round loss - the team decided it needed a new voice. Enter Joe Brady, the 34-year-old offensive coordinator who took over play-calling duties midseason and helped spark a late-season surge.
Brady’s rise was swift and impressive. He brought energy and creativity to the offense, and his rapport with Allen was evident. But Dungy’s concern isn’t about Brady’s talent - it’s about the risk of disrupting a foundation that, while not perfect, was undeniably strong.
“There’s always a temptation to think the next guy is going to be the one who gets you over the hump,” Dungy said. “But when you’ve got a good coach, a good quarterback, and a team that’s winning consistently - you better be sure before you blow that up.”
Dungy also pointed to the emotional toll that coaching changes can take on a locker room. Players build trust with a head coach.
They buy into a system. And when that’s suddenly removed, even for someone already on staff like Brady, there’s an adjustment period - one that doesn’t always go smoothly.
“Sean McDermott didn’t forget how to coach,” Dungy said. “He didn’t suddenly become the problem. Sometimes the expectations get so high that even success isn’t enough.”
And that’s the tightrope Buffalo is walking now. The Bills believe Brady can be the guy to push them over the top - to finally get past Kansas City, to finally reach the Super Bowl. But they’re also taking a gamble by moving on from a coach who built the very platform they’re now trying to jump from.
Dungy’s message isn’t meant to throw cold water on Brady’s promotion. It’s a reminder of how fragile success in the NFL can be. How quickly things can unravel when a team moves on from a coach who, while not perfect, delivered results year after year.
“You just hope they know what they’re doing,” Dungy said. “Because if they’re wrong, it’s not just a coaching change - it’s a reset.”
In Buffalo, the hope is that it’s not a reset, but a step forward. The Bills are betting big on Brady. And now, we wait to see if that bet pays off - or if Dungy’s warning proves prophetic.