It came as a surprise to many when the Buffalo Bills promoted Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach Tuesday.
Yet, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport explained why Brady was the man for the job after an exhaustive search that included interviews with the likes of Brian Daboll and Mike McDaniel.
Brady, of course, will replace Sean McDermott as the 19th coach since the Bills merged into the NFL in 1970. McDermott was the second-winningest coach in franchise history, behind only Hall of Famer Marv Levy, but could not get Buffalo to the Super Bowl in his nine seasons.
McDermott and the Bills went 13-6 in 2025 but lost to the top-seeded Denver Broncos 33-30 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Round playoffs. McDermott was fired by the Bills on Jan. 19.
Joe Brady Was Hired By The Bills Due To ‘CEO Approach’
Though he has never been an NFL head coach, Brady was a highly thought-of coach in this cycle. He had interviewed for both the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders head coaching roles.
Yet, the Bills promoted Brady — firing McDermott and replacing him with the OC in shorter order than the Raiders could fill their vacancy — for his top-down approach, according to Rapoport.
“Joe Brady is an excellent offensive coordinator. That is why he has been a top head-coaching candidate for several teams around the NFL,” Rapoport said. “My understanding is the reason he got hired by the Buffalo Bills is because of his CEO approach, a top-down approach for the Bills, and because of the way he sees the coaching staff blending with the personnel departments.”
Brady, of course, has a seamless rapport with franchise quarterback Josh Allen, who was a part of the coach-hiring process. Allen won the NFL MVP award in 2024, his first full season working with Brady after he took over for Ken Dorsey midseason in 2023.
The Bills Hope Promoting Joe Brady Is ‘The Hire That Will Take Them Over The Top’
Buffalo still needs to address its defense, since Bobby Babich left to join the Green Bay Packers as defensive coordinator earlier this week. The Bills allowed 28.5 points per game in the playoffs and have surrendered at least 27 points in each of their past six playoff losses, and are interviewing former NFL player Jim Leonhard for their vacancy.
Plus, with Brady now the head coach, Buffalo will need to hire an offensive coordinator to work under him. Chances are it will end up being another promotion from someone on staff, and ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg floated QBs coach Ronald Curry or DJ Mangas as options.
But in spite of Brady still needing to fill out his coaching staff, the Bills are excited about the 36-year-old leading their team for at least the next five years, even as the youngest coach in the NFL at this point.
“He is a leader, who they believe will be a shot in the arm,” Rapaport said. “The hope is that this is the hire that will take them over the top in a way that Sean McDermott was not able to do in Buffalo.”
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