Joe Brady’s journey from college football’s brightest young mind to NFL head coach has come full circle. The Buffalo Bills have officially named the 36-year-old Brady as their new head coach, marking a major step in a career that’s been on a fast track ever since LSU’s unforgettable 2019 season.
If you remember that LSU offense-and let’s be honest, how could you forget-it was nothing short of historic. Brady, then the Tigers' passing game coordinator, helped orchestrate a unit that rewrote the record books and steamrolled its way to a 15-0 national championship.
At the center of it all was Joe Burrow, who delivered one of the most dominant seasons in college football history. But behind the scenes, Brady’s fingerprints were all over the Tigers’ high-octane attack.
Now, after successful stints in both college and the pros, Brady steps into the top job in Buffalo, replacing Sean McDermott. It’s a move that signals the Bills are doubling down on offensive innovation-and trusting a coach who’s already proven he can maximize elite quarterback talent.
Brady’s time in Buffalo has been building to this. He served as the team’s quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023, then took over as offensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025. Under his guidance, the Bills' offense found rhythm and firepower, showcasing a balance of creativity and efficiency that made them one of the more dangerous units in the league.
But to understand why this hire matters, you have to go back to 2019.
That LSU team was a juggernaut, leading the nation in total offense (568.4 yards per game), scoring offense (48.4 points per game), and ranking second in passing offense (401.6 yards per game). Burrow, a transfer from Ohio State, exploded under Brady’s tutelage.
He threw for 5,671 yards, rushed for 368 more, and accounted for a jaw-dropping 65 total touchdowns. His 60 passing touchdowns set an FBS record, and his 202.0 passer rating was the highest in the nation at the time.
Simply put, it was a season for the ages.
Brady didn’t call every play-veteran coordinator Steve Ensminger handled much of that-but the offensive philosophy, spacing concepts, and wide-open formations bore Brady’s influence. The five-wide sets that became LSU’s signature?
Ensminger had started implementing them late in 2018, but Brady helped refine and elevate the system. The result was a seamless blend of college creativity and pro-style execution.
After that title run, Brady made the jump to the NFL, joining the Carolina Panthers as offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021. While the results were mixed, the experience added another layer to his coaching resume. When he landed in Buffalo, it didn’t take long for his offensive acumen to shine through.
Brady’s coaching roots trace back to humble beginnings. A former wide receiver at Air Force and William & Mary, he started his coaching career on the defensive side of the ball as a linebackers assistant at William & Mary.
He later served as a graduate assistant at Penn State before catching on with the New Orleans Saints in a lower-level offensive role under Sean Payton. Even then, his potential stood out-though Payton himself once admitted he struggled to recall Brady’s exact duties in those early days.
Now, Brady joins a rare group: former LSU coaches who’ve gone on to lead NFL teams. That list includes Nick Saban, who coached the Miami Dolphins in the mid-2000s; Adam Gase, who had stints with the Dolphins and Jets; Freddie Kitchens, who led the Browns in 2019; and Bill Peterson, who briefly coached the Houston Oilers in the early 1970s.
Brady's path, though, feels different. He’s not just a product of the LSU coaching tree-he’s a symbol of where modern football is headed.
His rise has been fast, but it’s been earned. And now, with the keys to the Bills franchise in hand, he’s got a chance to show what he can do on the biggest stage.
Buffalo’s bet on Brady is more than a coaching change. It’s a statement that they’re ready to evolve-and they believe Joe Brady is the guy to lead them there.