Joe Brady set to become Buffalo Bills head coach as franchise enters new era

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady will be the next head coach of the Buffalo Bills, the team announced on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Brady, 36 years old, agreed to a five-year contract to take over the job after the Bills fired Sean McDermott earlier this month following their playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in the 2025 NFL season divisional round at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York. Brady has been with the Bills since 2022. He started as the quarterbacks coach, then became offensive coordinator, and now steps up to lead the entire team. This decision comes after a short but intense head coach search that lasted about a week, with Brady as the first candidate interviewed and the final choice of the Bills’ leadership. Joe Brady will lead the Buffalo Bills in the 2026 NFL season, becoming the team’s 21st head coach. His promotion moves him from offensive coordinator to the top coaching job. Brady was the first coach the Bills interviewed for the role, and the team completed the process quickly. Hired as quarterbacks coach, Brady started his career with Buffalo on February 4, 2022. Working closely with quarterback Josh Allen, he helped to shape the attack. Brady became acting offensive coordinator in November 2023 when the Bills replaced Ken Dorsey, and he astonished with great offensive output.In his offensive coordinator years (2024 and 2025), the Bills posted high offensive numbers, including top rankings in scoring and yards. In 2025, the offense ranked fourth in points per game and total yards per game under Brady’s system. General manager Brandon Beane said Brady’s work brought continuity to the team and that it was important to build around the offense that already exists. Many fans and analysts have noted that this hire keeps the team’s style consistent while hoping to push Buffalo to a Super Bowl. Sean McDermott was fired on January 19, 2026, after nine seasons as the Bills head coach. McDermott led the team to eight playoff appearances but never reached the Super Bowl, a key factor in the decision by team owner Terry Pegula. Brady now takes over a team that finished 12–5 in 2025 and looks to improve further in the AFC East. With a strong offense led by Josh Allen and running back James Cook, who has been a key playmaker, Brady’s task is to push Buffalo past the playoff stage where McDermott’s teams fell short. This coaching change also means fresh faces on the Bills’ staff. Several assistant coaches have left or retired, and Buffalo is expected to fill multiple new coaching roles before the start of the 2026 season.