Joe Brady’s coaching stock is rising fast-and the Las Vegas Raiders are clearly paying attention.
The 36-year-old offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills is in Vegas for a second head coaching interview with the Raiders, signaling serious mutual interest. Brady’s not just a name on the interview list-he’s in the thick of multiple head coaching searches, including with the Cardinals and his current team, the Bills. And if he doesn’t land a top job, he’s expected to be one of the most coveted offensive coordinator candidates on the market.
Brady’s journey through the coaching ranks has been anything but conventional. He got his start in 2013 coaching linebackers at William & Mary, then moved into a graduate assistant role at Penn State. From there, he spent two seasons with the New Orleans Saints as an offensive assistant, where he gained valuable NFL experience under Sean Payton’s high-powered offense.
But it was his one-year stint at LSU in 2019 that put him on the map. As the Tigers’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, Brady helped engineer one of the most explosive offenses in college football history-a unit that powered LSU to a national championship and helped launch Joe Burrow’s Heisman-winning campaign. That season turned Brady into a hot commodity overnight.
He jumped back to the NFL in 2020 as the Panthers’ offensive coordinator, but his time in Carolina was rocky. The offense never quite clicked, and he was let go before finishing his second season. Still, the league didn’t forget what he did at LSU or what he showed in flashes with Carolina.
The Bills hired him as their quarterbacks coach in 2022, and when Ken Dorsey was fired, Brady stepped into the OC role. Since then, he’s helped revitalize Buffalo’s offense.
In 2025, the Bills ranked fourth in total offense, fourth in points scored, first in rushing yards, and 15th in passing yards. That balance-especially the emergence of a dominant ground game-has caught the eye of teams looking to modernize their offenses without abandoning physicality.
The Raiders have cast a wide net in their head coaching search. Here’s a look at the candidates they’ve been linked to:
- Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel (now with the Chargers)
- Panthers DC Ejiro Evero (interviewed)
- Chargers DC Jesse Minter (now with the Ravens)
- Packers DC Jeff Hafley (now with the Dolphins)
- Broncos DC Vance Joseph (interviewed)
- Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak (withdrew)
- Chiefs OC Matt Nagy (interviewed)
- Broncos QBs coach Davis Webb (requested)
- Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase (interview scheduled)
- Rams OC Mike LaFleur (requested)
- Rams DC Chris Shula (requested)
- Vikings DC Brian Flores
- Former Giants HC Brian Daboll (interviewed)
- Bills OC Joe Brady (interviewed)
It’s a diverse list, ranging from seasoned coordinators to up-and-coming position coaches, and even a few former head coaches looking for another shot. But Brady stands out as one of the few offensive minds with both NFL and college success, and a track record of adapting his scheme to the talent around him.
With multiple teams circling and a second interview in Vegas, Brady’s future could be decided soon. Whether he ends up leading a franchise or calling plays for another offense, one thing is clear: Joe Brady is back on the NFL radar in a big way-and this time, he might be here to stay.