Bills promote OC Joe Brady to head coach

The Buffalo Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach with a five-year contract on Tuesday.

Brady, 36, replaces Sean McDermott, who was fired last week after compiling a 98-50 record over nine seasons but failing to reach the Super Bowl.

Brady spent the past four seasons on McDermott's staff. He was Josh Allen's quarterbacks coach in 2022 and 2023 and added interim offensive coordinator duties in November 2023 after the firing of Ken Dorsey. He was promoted to the full-time job in 2024.

Brady also interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins about their head coaching vacancies.

In 2025, Brady's Buffalo offense ranked fourth in the NFL in yards (376.3 per game) and points (28.3). In 2024, Allen won league MVP honors and the Bills became the first team in NFL history to score at least 30 rushing and 30 receiving touchdowns in a single season.

Brady first grabbed headlines in 2019 as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach during LSU's 15-0 run to the national championship. He won the Broyles Award as the top assistant in college football for his work with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.

Brady was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21.

Brady becomes the youngest active NFL head coach, replacing Kellen Moore, 37, of the New Orleans Saints.

The Bills also interviewed former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Denver Broncos pass game coordinator Davis Webb, Washington Commanders run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Indianapolis Colts DC Lou Anarumo and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers.

--Field Level Media