Article and Photos by Paul Lane

Given the weeks of sub-freezing temperatures and near-continuous snowfall Western New York has seen lately, it would take a lot for a south Florida native to want to spend their winters in Buffalo.

But from the moment Sean McDermott was let go as coach of the Buffalo Bills, Joe Brady knew that’s exactly what he wanted. The first of nine people interviewed for the job, the Bills’ offensive coordinator earned the promotion and was formally introduced Thursday.

From the start of his introductory press conference at the Bills Fieldhouse, Brady was all smiles. He was also appreciative of his predecessor.

“Coach McDermott gave me the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Brady, who joined the staff in 2022 and was elevated to offensive coordinator a year later. “I want to continue to build upon the foundation he laid. At the same time, we’ve got to move forward.”

Forward, of course, means an appearance in the Super Bowl, about the only thing McDermott didn’t accomplish during his nine years, during which he went 98-50 but only 8-8 in the playoffs. Everyone in the organization agrees McDermott was vital to the team’s turnaround, but the lack of that last step brought about the need for change.

Buffalo Bills General Manager and President of Football Operations Brandon Beane, left, with Joe Brady, who was hired as the team’s new coach.

••••••••

“When we started this process, we were looking for a CEO type of head coach,” said Brandon Beane, who aside from serving as general manager was named president of football operations last week. “What I’m talking about is a fresh new vision for the Buffalo Bills, someone who values strong values, culture and alignment. Someone who’s an excellent communicator. We wanted a lion. Joe Brady is all that and more.”

That approach necessitates sacrifice. In Brady’s case, he missed the birth of his child earlier this season because the team had a game. He credited his wife for her unconditional support, and his family for instilling that work ethic that’s carried him from collegiate assistant to NFL head coach by age 36.

“I love to work,” he said. “I enjoy that. That competitive stamina that I believe I’m going to instill in my players is what carries me.”

Brady addresses the media Thursday in Orchard Park.

••••••••

His age and relative inexperience may lead to missteps, but Brady said the organization’s aligned vision will allow him to lean upon Beane and other personnel for support.

So will his eventual new hires. Brady said he’s interviewing people to serve as offensive and defensive coordinator, with the staff falling into form after those people are brought on board (Brady will still call plays on offense). The staff’s approach to free agency and the draft – which both Brady and Beane said will involve a collaborative, inclusive strategy – will hopefully help the team still be playing 52 weeks from now.

“You don’t make players just fit a system,” Brady said. "You build a system that fits the players, and find out what works best for us.”

Beane acknowledged there were a few other great candidates among the nine interviewees, and there’s a risk in making this change. But something had to shift for the ultimate goal to happen.

“Any time you hire someone for the first time that they’re doing this, there is a little bit of an unknown, but I believe in his plan, his vision and communication,” Beane said. “While no one is going to 100% check every single box, Joe checked a lot of boxes. We can help fill in some of those areas. Joe can help him check some of the boxes where I may be lacking.”

••••••••

See also >> Buffalo Bills GM Beane on Brady: 'Joe and I will work together to get this thing over the top'

See also >> Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen on new coach Joe Brady: 'He's going to hold me to a very high standard, and I welcome that'