Joe Brady

Buffalo Bills Head Coach.

Quick Facts

Role: Head Coach
Team: Buffalo Bills (BUF)
Current holder: Joe Brady (age 36; promoted from OC after Sean McDermott was fired)
Coaching tree: see Coaching Trees

Background

Was already Buffalo's offensive coordinator and play-caller. Promoted to HC in 2026 after the team fired Sean McDermott (nine seasons) following the divisional-round playoff loss. Pete Carmichael Jr. (from Denver) is the new offensive coordinator. Jim Leonhard came over from Denver as defensive coordinator.

Scheme and Tendencies

Status quo on offense (he was already calling plays) — Josh Allen-led, top-of-league passing attack. Defense should change under Leonhard. Bills used six of 10 draft picks on defense, including DT T.J. Sanders and CB Davison Igbinosun in the second round, plus signed Bradley Chubb. Coaching philosophy emphasizes showing standards rather than just telling them, building relationships beyond football, fostering accountability, and deliberately "flooding" players with information to identify who can handle complexity. Brady is comfortable challenging Allen and expects Allen to hold him accountable in return (per Pollock: Brady gets first taste as Buffalo Bills head coach during OTAs).

Recent News

2026-05-21 — Rams 2026 opponent breakdown: Buffalo Bills (Rams 2026 opponent breakdown: Buffalo Bills)
2026-05-31 — New Bills WR DJ Moore admits to 'growing pains' in Buffalo, confident 'it's gonna be... (New Bills WR DJ Moore admits to 'growing pains' in Buffalo, confident 'it's gonna be...)
2026-05-21 — 2026 NFL Preview: The 10 New Coordinators Who Could Shape Upcoming Season (2026 NFL Preview: The 10 New Coordinators Who Could Shape Upcoming Season)
2026-02-20 — 2026 NFL Coaching/GM Tracker: Rams Find Their Offensive Coordinator In-House (2026 NFL Coaching/GM Tracker: Rams Find Their Offensive Coordinator In-House)
2026-05-27 — NFL trade offers for Coleman, Kmet, Richardson, Thibodeaux (NFL trade offers for Coleman, Kmet, Richardson, Thibodeaux)
2026-05-24 — Jim Leonhard lands among league's best new coordinators for 2026 season (Jim Leonhard lands among league's best new coordinators for 2026 season)
2026-05-30 — Bills' most under appreciated player pick for 2026 is exactly who fans expect (Bills' most under appreciated player pick for 2026 is exactly who fans expect)
2026-05-30 — 4 biggest obstacles the Buffalo Bills will have to deal with in 2026 (4 biggest obstacles the Buffalo Bills will have to deal with in 2026)
2026-05-30 — Bills Wire game-by-game predictions for the 2026 NFL season (Bills Wire game-by-game predictions for the 2026 NFL season)
2026-05-28 — 3 reasons why the Buffalo Bills' offense will improve in 2026 (3 reasons why the Buffalo Bills' offense will improve in 2026)

Sources

FOX Sports 10 new coordinators who could shape 2026
NFL 2026 head coach cycle leaned offense (10 hires, NYT)
Fantasy Alarm 2026 NFL head coach and coordinator tracker