Joe Brady’s rise to the head of one of the NFL’s top offenses did not occur overnight.
It all started at LSU, where he was promoted to offensive coordinator on Matt Rhule’s staff in Carolina. That didn’t work out, and Brady dropped back down the coaching ranks. However, when the Bills opted to cut ways with former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey midway through the 2023 season, Brady reverted to a familiar role, transforming the Bills’ offense into one of the most balanced and deadly in the NFL.
These accomplishments have sparked interest from clubs looking for new head coaches. Josh Allen, the Bills quarterback, would prefer that the rest of the league forget Brady exists for a month.
When asked how Brady has helped them improve, Allen responded cheekily, “Nothing,” according to NewYorkUpstate.com. “He has not done anything for us. Teams should avoid him.When asked how Brady has helped them improve, Allen responded cheekily, “Nothing,” according to NewYorkUpstate.com. “He has not done anything for us. “Teams should avoid him.”
Brady’s impact was noticeable almost immediately. Buffalo refocused on the run shortly after he replaced Dorsey last year, balancing an attack that was overly reliant on Allen’s abilities. The Bills won their final five games of the season, running the table and reaching the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
With a full summer to call the shots, Brady’s offense has taken off in 2024. Buffalo is ranked 10th in yards per game, with ninth-place performances in rushing and passing yards per game. Allen is a top candidate for NFL MVP. James Cook had his second consecutive 1,000-yard season on the ground, and the Bills are 13-4 despite losing Stefon Diggs in the offseason.
“He’s been fantastic,” Allen said of Brady. “You know, coming into that situation last year… It’s not easy to switch play-callers midyear, and he came in and from that day on, if you look at our splits, our success that we’ve had as a team, it’s noticeable. He’s one of the most positive guys in the building. He’s always got juice and energy for the guys. I think that’s something that we love and appreciate about him. He’s as real as they come.”
Brady received a lesson in offensive coaching as an assistant under Sean Payton in New Orleans from 2017-18, taking that knowledge to LSU where he oversaw one of the most explosive passing attacks in college football. With Joe Burrow at quarterback and Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase running routes, the Tigers went undefeated and won the College Football Playoff National Championship, while Brady received the Broyles Award as college football’s finest assistant.
Despite his challenges in a poor setting in Carolina, Brady has overcome hardship to find a role that fits him well. The Bills are hoping he will continue to lead them to success, including a possible Super Bowl appearance for the first time since the early 1990s.
And if Allen gets his way, nobody will notice.
