In 2019, the LSU Tigers had a magical season with a 15–0 record, winning the College Football Playoff National Championship, and setting numerous offensive records along the way. The mastermind behind their historic offense was a 30-year-old named Joe Brady, who was the team’s passing game coordinator and was calling plays for the first time in his career.
Brady seemed destined to become a head coach sooner rather than later, and finally, six years and two weeks to the day after winning the CFP Title Game, the now-36-year-old finally gets to be in charge. On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills promoted Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach, under a five-year contract.
Brady replaces Sean McDermott, who was fired last week after nine years leading Buffalo, getting canned shortly after the Bills’ Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos. Brady becomes the 21st coach in the history of the franchise, and he also becomes the youngest active coach in the National Football League, a mark previously held by 37-year-old Kellen Moore of the New Orleans Saints.
It wasn’t a linear path for Brady from coordinating LSU’s historic offense to landing his first head coaching job, as he had to take a step back after his first NFL job. Following that 2019 LSU season, Brady made the leap to the NFL to become the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2020 under first-year coach Matt Rhule. However, Brady didn’t find the same success in the pros as the Panthers ranked 24th in scoring in Brady’s first season before dropping to 29th in his second season.
As a result, Brady didn’t even make it through his second year, and was fired late in the 2021 season. He then had to accept a demotion, going from Carolina’s offensive coordinator to Buffalo’s quarterbacks coach for the 2022 season. After serving in that role for one-and-a-half seasons, Brady got another opportunity as an NFL playcaller when he was named the Bills’ interim offensive coordinator midway through 2023 when the team fired Ken Dorsey.
In Brady’s first full year in the role in 2024, he propelled Josh Allen to the NFL MVP award, and the Bills had the No. 2 scoring offense. Brady was also a finalist for the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award, ultimately finishing fourth. Then this past season, he helped running back James Cook win the rushing title during a year that saw the Bills ranked in the top five in both points scored and total yards gained. Having a strong rapport with the team’s best players in Allen and Cook undoubtedly played a role in the Bills’ brass appointing him to the position.
Outside of Hall of Famer Marv Levy, who led the franchise to four straight Super Bowl appearances, that in each case ended in defeat, McDermott is the most successful coach in team history. Thus, Brady has big shoes to fill, but it’s clear why the Bills felt they needed to go in another direction. Despite becoming the fourth team in NFL history to win a playoff game in six straight seasons, the Bills under McDermott not only never won a Super Bowl, but they never even got to The Big Game.
Each of the other three franchises that won a postseason win in six straight seasons won three Super Bowls during their run. Those franchises are the Dallas Cowboys (1991–96), New England Patriots (2011–18), and Kansas City Chiefs (2018–24).
Additionally, the Bills’ 73–27 regular season record over the last six seasons is the best in the NFL, yet those 73 wins in a six-season span are the most in NFL history without a Super Bowl trip.
Additionally, the team interviewed Colts defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo, and the team’s late-season quarterback in Philip Rivers, who had only coached in high school prior to coming out of retirement this past season. Dolphins DC, Anthony Weaver; former Bills interim head coach, Anthony Lynn; Jaguars OC, Grant Udinski; Broncos QB coach, Davis Webb; and Rams passing coordinator, Nate Scheelhaase, all also interviewed for the opening.
With the Bills’ head coaching position now filled, seven of the 10 head coach openings are no longer available. Of the seven new hires, Brady is one of three that will be a first-time head coach, joining Jeff Hafley of the Dolphins and Jesse Minter of the Ravens. He’s also the only new coach who was promoted from within.
The three open positions that still remain belong to the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders.
