Who is Joe Brady? Meet the 36-year-old taking over as Buffalo Bills’ new head coach

Joe Brady: The Buffalo Bills have named Joe Brady their new head coach on a five-year deal, replacing Sean McDermott, who was fired last week after nine seasons in Buffalo, as per a report.

Joe Brady Named Buffalo Bills Head Coach

Brady has been with the Bills since 2022, starting as the team’s quarterbacks coach. In November 2023, after then-offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired, the 36-year-old was promoted to interim offensive coordinator and later became the full-time coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, as per an ESPN report.

Buffalo Bills Head Coach: Record-Breaking Seasons

Since taking over the offense in Week 11 of 2023, Brady has overseen one of the most productive stretches in the NFL. The Bills posted the best record in the league, ranked first in EPA per play (0.14), and averaged 29.1 points per game.


Under his guidance, the offense set franchise records in 2024 for most points (525) and touchdowns (65) in a season, as per the ESPN report. Quarterback Josh Allen won his first MVP award in 2024, and running back James Cook III captured the rushing title in 2025.

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Brady’s influence extends beyond the stats. Allen praised him last season, saying, "[Brady's] one of the most positive guys in the building," adding, "He's always got juice and energy for the guys. I think that's something that we love and appreciate about him, and he's as real as they come," as quoted by ESPN.

Joe Brady’s NFL Journey

A William & Mary graduate and former college wide receiver, Brady began his NFL career as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton in 2017-18. He then served as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU during their 2019 national championship season, followed by a stint as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21, as per the ESPN report.

Bills Head Coach News: Coaching Search Details

Brady has interviewed for multiple head coaching jobs over the years and was the first candidate the Bills spoke with this offseason. The coaching search involved Allen, owner Terry Pegula, general manager Brandon Beane, and other executives, with Beane emphasizing the need for leadership and management skills beyond playcalling, as per the ESPN report.

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Joe Brady News: What’s Next for Buffalo Bills

Beane said last week, "This is a bigger job than just a playcaller and schemer," adding, "I think we've seen where guys have been excellent playcallers, but they got to the head coach seat and they couldn't handle the adversity, the conflict management ... it's a CEO job. It really is. ... We've got to make sure we get the leadership, the CEO part," as quoted by ESPN.

FAQs

How old is Joe Brady?

He is 36 years old.

What was Joe Brady’s role before becoming head coach?

He started as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach and later became interim, then full-time, offensive coordinator.