Bills hire Joe Brady as head coach: Everything you need to know about Buffalo’s new HC and his contract
Having fired Sean McDermott earlier this month, the Buffalo Bills have reportedly selected his successor as head coach.
The Bills have reportedly chosen Joe Brady as their new head coach, just over a week after ending Sean McDermott’s nearly decade-long stint as Buffalo HC.
Bills opt for in-house hire
Several major NFL insiders have reported that Brady, who had been part of McDermott’s coaching staff, is to be promoted to the top job at Highmark Stadium.
The franchise is handing the Florida native a five-year contract as head coach, per well-connected reporters such as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Joe Brady is signing a five-year deal with Buffalo. https://t.co/jWkAxu03mO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2026
Who is Joe Brady?
Brady had been the Bills’ offensive coordinator since January 2024, having initially joined the team’s coaching staff as quarterbacks coach.
The 36-year-old had previously spent two seasons as the OC at the Carolina Panthers, as well as two seasons as an offensive assistant at the New Orleans Saints.
Brady’s coaching career has also seen him work in college football; most notably, he helped the LSU Tigers to the College Football Playoff national championship in 2019, serving as passing coordinator.
McDermott out after playoffs exit
McDermott was fired by the Bills on Jan. 19, two days after a 33-30 defeat to the Denver Broncos in the NFL postseason’s Divisional Round.
Led by quarterback Josh Allen - the NFL’s reigning MVP - 2025 was Buffalo’s seventh straight year in the playoffs under McDermott’s command. However, the team failed to make it to the Super Bowl in any of the 51-year-old’s nine seasons in charge.
The Bills, who last reached the NFL’s championship game in 1993, remain one of 12 teams that have never lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
“Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past 9 seasons,” Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement. “But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.”
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 19, 2026
Who else did the Bills target as HC?
During their search for McDermott’s replacement, the Bills’ front office interviewed several candidates other than Brady. They included former New York Giants head coach and Bills OC Brian Daboll; Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo; former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers; and Jacksonville Jaguars OC Grant Udinski.
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