Sources: Bills promoting OC Brady to head coach

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Brady is expected to sign a five-year deal, sources told Schefter.

Brady replaces Sean McDermott, who was fired last week after the Bills were eliminated by the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs. McDermott had spent nine seasons as head coach in Buffalo, taking the team to the playoffs in eight of those seasons.

Brady, 36, has been with the organization since 2022, initially joining former coach Sean McDermott’s staff as the team’s quarterbacks coach. He was promoted to interim offensive coordinator in November of the 2023 season after then-offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired. He was then the team’s full-time offensive coordinator from 2024-25.

Since promoting Brady (Week 11, 2023), the Bills have ranked first in EPA per play (0.14) and second in points per game (29.1). The Bills had nine games with 30-plus points this season, tied with the Rams for the most in the NFL. Allen won his first MVP award in 2024, while running back James Cook finished with the rushing title in 2025. The Buffalo offense in 2024 also broke records for most points (525) and touchdowns (65) in a season in franchise history.

The William & Mary graduate and former college wide receiver has a very close relationship with quarterback Josh Allen, who was part of the interview process for coach. Before his time with the Bills, Brady was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (2020-Dec. 2021) and the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach at LSU during the team’s National Championship