John Fox is back in the NFL.
The longtime head coach and defensive mind is joining the Buffalo Bills as a senior assistant coach under new head coach Joe Brady. It’s a notable move for a franchise in transition, and Fox brings with him five decades of coaching experience-most of it on the defensive side of the ball.
At 71, Fox isn’t stepping in to chase another head coaching gig. Instead, he’s stepping into a mentorship role, likely working closely with defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and a young defensive staff that’s still building its identity.
And that’s where Fox’s value becomes clear. This is a guy who’s seen just about everything the NFL has to offer, from gritty defensive battles to Super Bowl runs, and he’s bringing that wealth of knowledge to a Bills team that’s been knocking on the door of a championship.
Fox's coaching journey started after a short stint as a defensive back, followed by a string of one-year jobs coaching defensive backs in college. He broke into the NFL ranks in 1989, and throughout the '90s, he carved out a reputation as a sharp defensive mind.
His big breakthrough came in 2000, when he coordinated a New York Giants defense that helped carry the team to the Super Bowl. That performance didn’t go unnoticed.
In 2002, Fox landed his first NFL head coaching job with the Carolina Panthers. Just two years later, he had them in the Super Bowl. His nine-year run in Carolina was solid-73 wins, 71 losses-but came to a rough end after a 2-14 season in 2010.
Then came Denver. And that’s where Fox really reminded the league what he could do.
He took a Broncos team led by Tim Tebow to the playoffs in 2011, and when Peyton Manning arrived in 2012, the Broncos took off. Fox’s Denver teams were dominant, winning nearly 80% of their games during his four-year run and reaching the Super Bowl in 2013.
But after a disappointing playoff exit in 2014, Fox stepped down.
He gave head coaching one more shot in Chicago, but the Bears never found their footing. Over three seasons, the team went 14-34 and finished last in the NFC North each year.
Since then, Fox has taken on more behind-the-scenes roles-senior defensive assistant with the Colts in 2022, then with the Lions in 2023. While he’s been out of the spotlight, he hasn’t been out of the game. And now, with Buffalo bringing him in, it’s clear that his experience is still in demand.
This isn’t just about adding a big name to the staff. For a team like the Bills, who are right in the thick of the AFC’s elite but still searching for that final piece to get over the hump, having someone like Fox in the room matters.
He knows what it takes to build a Super Bowl-caliber defense. He’s managed locker rooms, navigated playoff pressure, and helped young coaches grow.
Joe Brady may be the new face of the franchise, but having a steady, battle-tested voice like Fox alongside him could be a key ingredient as the Bills look to take the next step.