The Buffalo Bills conveyed a clear message after yet another premature exit from the playoffs in 2025: Progressing to the postseason alone is insufficient. Following nine admirable regular-season campaigns, Sean McDermott was dismissed, concluding an exceptionally fruitful period in the history of the Bills organization.
On Tuesday, the organization identified the individual it believes can achieve what McDermott could not, elevating offensive coordinator Joe Brady to assume the role of its subsequent head coach, as confirmed by the team.
Brady secured a five-year agreement with the team. The financial particulars of his agreement were not disclosed.
The Bills possess a thorough familiarity with the 36-year-old Brady, having brought him on board as quarterbacks coach in 2022 subsequent to his two-season tenure as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator. During those two campaigns, Josh Allen surpassed 4,000 passing yards each year and amassed a total of 64 passing touchdowns. In 2023, Brady assumed offensive coordinator responsibilities temporarily following the termination of Ken Dorsey. One year later, Brady was appointed to the permanent position and received a nomination as a finalist for the Assistant Coach of the Year accolade.
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Brady will encounter remarkably elevated expectations with the Bills. During McDermott’s leadership, the squad advanced to the playoffs in eight out of nine seasons. The Bills secured at least one playoff victory in six of those appearances, reaching the AFC championship game twice, where they were vanquished on both occasions by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
This establishes a situation where Brady will be required to guide the team to the Super Bowl—or, at a minimum, achieve multiple deep post-season advancements—to categorize his initial period with the Bills as a greater triumph than McDermott’s accomplishments.
That constitutes an unreasonable burden to impose on any coach, yet it represents the current reality when Josh Allen serves as your quarterback. Allen’s presence rendered the Bills one of the most attractive destinations this offseason. Allen stands as one of the sport’s premier quarterbacks, a consistent Pro Bowler, a frequent contender for first-team All-Pro honors, and a legitimate MVP candidate. The 29-year-old is contracted until the conclusion of the 2030 season, guaranteeing his continued presence in Buffalo for years ahead. The sole achievement eluding him is a Super Bowl championship, and the Bills are convinced Brady is the person who will help Allen attain it.
Although Buffalo was perceived as a highly desirable location the moment McDermott was dismissed, the timing of that action placed the Bills at a disadvantage. John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski—two of the most sought-after head coaches available—had already committed to other franchises by the time the Bills made their move.
Given that the dismissal occurred after the divisional round of the playoffs, the Bills were forbidden from interviewing any coach affiliated with an NFL team still actively competing, meaning assistants from the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks were unable to communicate with Buffalo until their respective teams were eliminated from post-season contention. This restriction did not apply to teams that had discharged coaches prior to the divisional round; they were permitted to arrange interviews with assistants from those teams, subject to certain stipulations regarding when those discussions could occur.
Ultimately, this factor proved irrelevant, as the Bills decided to proceed with a coach already part of their existing staff.
Notably, while McDermott was relieved of his duties, general manager Brandon Beane was permitted to remain. The Bills elevated Beane to the position of team president and entrusted him with leading the search for the Bills’ subsequent coach. Beane ultimately selected Brady, and the prosperity of that collaboration could dictate the duration of Beane’s tenure in his new capacity.
With Brady now appointed, the arduous work can commence. Provided Allen maintains his health, the Bills ought to be regarded as perpetual contenders for a Super Bowl victory. While the Allen era has been extraordinarily successful, the Bills have yet to reach the championship game with the All-Pro signal-caller, an accomplishment the team achieved four consecutive times in the early 1990s with quarterback Jim Kelly.
The conclusion of that particular streak is widely known. Despite four successive Super Bowl appearances, the Bills continue their pursuit of their inaugural Super Bowl triumph.
The team has not advanced to that stage with Allen as of yet, but the parallels are apparent. Following repeated seasons of falling short with Allen, the Bills’ ownership concluded that it would not squander the prime years of another generational passer.
It will fall upon Brady to break that pattern and secure Buffalo’s first Super Bowl title in the franchise’s history. Having Allen commanding the offense renders that objective considerably more achievable, yet it remains an immense challenge for any coach in their initial year on the job, particularly for a first-time head coach.
