The Bills have elected to take the interior route regarding their head coaching position. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has been promoted to the role, as first reported by Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The news is now official, per a team announcement. It is a five-year agreement, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. After a nine-year run with Sean McDermott on the helm, the Bills will hope a well-known first-time head coach will have the opportunity to get them over the hump within the postseason.
Once McDermott was fired within the wake of Buffalo’s latest divisional round loss, Brady was named as a logical alternative candidate the team knows well. Indeed, the Bills showed interest in former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and ex-Josh Allen teammate Davis Webb while weighing their options. All three have received looks elsewhere available on the market, but as a substitute of departing Brady has elected to stay in place and take over Buffalo’s staff.
Brady interviewed twice with the Ravens and Raiders for his or her HC vacancies. He also arranged an in-person meeting with the Cardinals, but that is not going to happen. A promotion at all times loomed as a robust possibility on this case, and after working in Buffalo the past 4 years Brady will now tackle a head coaching position for the primary time in his profession by remaining in a well-known spot.
The 36-year-old spent two seasons as a Saints assistant before joining LSU’s staff for 2019. Brady’s work with the national champions that yr drew attention based on the Tigers’ remarkable offensive production and boosted his coaching stock to a big extent. It immediately landed him an OC gig with the Panthers. Things didn’t go based on plan during Matt Rhule‘s Carolina tenure, but Brady didn’t must wait long to search out a brand new opportunity once his two-year Panthers run got here to an end. He joined the Bills in 2022 as their quarterbacks coach.
Ken Dorsey was in place as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator on the time. That remained the case until midway through the 2023 campaign, when Dorsey was fired. Brady took over for the rest of the season and stayed in place because the team’s play-caller through 2024 and ’25. During his two full years as an OC, Buffalo ranked second after which fourth within the NFL in scoring. The Bills also posted top-10 finishes in total offense under Brady.
Expectations will little question remain high for the team on offense with Brady still in place and a core highlighted by Allen under contract. Buffalo remained strong as a rushing team this past season, but struggles within the passing game proved to be a problem. The Bills will presumably aim to herald a minimum of one notable pass-catcher this offseason, but within the meantime Brady will now turn his attention to constructing a staff.
An OC alternative will have to be sought out, with a choice on whether or not Brady will call plays being required as well. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich stays in place presently; Babich has worked because the team’s DC for the past two years but his Buffalo tenure dates back to 2017. It would be interesting to see how much Brady prioritizes experience versus in search of out external options over the approaching days.
As a part of the choice to maneuver on from McDermott, Bills owner Terry Pegula elected to advertise general manager Brandon Beane to president of football operations. That elevated Beane’s standing within the organization and little question increased his sway during HC interviews. Allen also had input in the top coaching decision, and the coordinator in place from his 2024 MVP season will remain within the organization moving forward.
Candidates with a wide selection of coaching experience interviewed with the Bills within the aftermath of McDermott’s dismissal. Other highly-regarded staffers corresponding to Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak could have also received a glance, but Buffalo was not eligible to talk with him until after the Super Bowl. As a substitute of waiting for Kubiak or every other external candidates, Pegula and Co. have decided to advertise from inside.