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

Joe Brady: The Buffalo Bills 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, according to a report.

Joe Brady has been named head coach of the Buffalo Bills

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, according to an ESPN report.

Buffalo Bills head coach: Record 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 game (0.14) and averaged 29.1 points per game.

Under his leadership, the offense set franchise records for most points (525) and touchdowns (65) in 2024, according to an ESPN report. Quarterback Josh Allen won his first MVP award in 2024 and James Cook III won the 2025 rushing title.

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Brady’s impact goes beyond statistics. Allen praised him last season, saying:[Brady’s] one of the most positive guys in the building,” adding, “For guys, he’s always got juice and energy. I think that’s something we love and appreciate about him, and he’s as genuine 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 the passing coordinator and wide receivers coach at LSU during the 2019 national championship season, followed by a stint as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2020-21, according to an ESPN report.

Bills head coaching news: Coaching search details

Brady has interviewed for various head coaching positions over the years and was the first candidate the Bills talked to this offseason. The coaching search included Allen, owner Terry Pegula, general manager Brandon Beane and other executives, with Beane stressing the need for leadership and management skills beyond playing, according to an ESPN report.

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Joe Brady News: What’s Next for the Buffalo Bills

Beane said last week, “This is a bigger job than just a playcaller and a schemer,” adding, “I think we’ve seen guys where they’ve been great playcallers, but they get in the head coach’s chair and they can’t handle the adversity, the conflict management … it’s the CEO’s job. It really is. … We’ve got to make sure we get the leadership, the CEO part,” according to ESPN.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Joe Brady?
He is 36 years old.

What was Joe Brady’s role before he became a head coach?
He started as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach and later became the interim, then full-time, offensive coordinator.