Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Bills have tabbed Joe Brady as the next head coach of the franchise, replacing Sean McDermott after his nine seasons in Orchard Park.
Brady has spent the last four seasons in Buffalo with the Bills, starting out as the quarterbacks coach before taking over play calling duties as interim offensive coordinator in the middle of the 2023 season. Over the last two seasons, Brady has been the full-time offensive play caller for the Bills, where Buffalo has been one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL.
Tuesday's hiring ended up drawing some mixed emotions, though, from Bills fans, especially those who maybe thought the team would look to an outside source to take over as head coach.
"We've had the No. 1 offense in the NFL the last couple seasons. Yeah, there's been a lot of bubble screens and things I might not agree with, with the play calling, but maybe this could put Josh [Allen] over the top," said A.J. from Amherst. "[Brady] has been his quarterbacks coach for a while, he's comfortable with him. He's comfortable in his system, you're not changing his language or anything he needs to learn. So as easy as transitions go, that's probably the best you could hope for. I'm just interested to see who they hire as an offensive and defensive coordinator."
"With the names that were available, it's not quite what we were probably hoping for as Bills fans," said Flynn from Kenmore. "But ultimately, all I can do is 'trust the process,' as they like to tell us. They know more about it than we do, we're all just fans watching at home. So maybe we'll see the big changes that we as Bills fans have been dying for for years, coming under Joe Brady. I am happy that they went with the offensive-minded head coach."
Some fans like Jim from Williamsville were happy to keep Joe Brady on as head coach.
"I would think Joe Brady would be the best choice after they got rid of Sean McDermott. I think Sean McDermott should have stayed, but then Joe Brady probably would have been taken up by somebody else," said Jim with WBEN.
However, other fans were very disappointed in the team going internal to hire its next head coach.
"I'm kind of disappointed in their choice. I think they had their choice made even before they went out and supposedly interviewed other people," said Sherri from Buffalo. "He's got a good record, as far as number of wins we've had since he's been the offensive coordinator, but I don't think he's going to be a good head coach. I think we need something totally different, but I think Brandon Beane got the person he wants."
"I'm not happy. If Joe Brady is going to be the coach, who is going to be our offensive coordinator? I wonder if he's going to have a dual role of calling plays and coaching at the same time," added Paul from Wheatfield.
Some fans were on the fence for some time with McDermott over whether he was the coach to get the job done with Allen and the Bills. Flynn feels this firing was a long time coming.
"I feel like with the firing of Sean McDermott, I always anticipated you would get Brandon Beane and Joe Brady along with that name. If you're going to get rid of one, usually they get rid of them all. But they must know something on the back end," he said with WBEN. "There's always things that the Bills can be very cryptic about, as far as the upper management and the ownership. They must know something we don't, and all I can do is trust that."
Now with the head coach in place in Orchard Park, fans are hopeful Brady and the rest of the organization will be focused on trying to build a roster that can help the NFL's MVP finally get over the hump and to a Super Bowl.
"I want to see Josh Allen do very good and have a Super Bowl or three Super Bowl rings or four Super Bowl rings on his fingers. That's what I would like to see. He needs it. We need it," Jim said with WBEN.
"Ultimately, when you have a talent like Josh, we have to be in the 'win now' mentality," Flynn added. "I think based off [Terry] Pegula's interview from last week, that's definitely the type of mentality that it sounds like we're trying to carry. It's 'we're going to do whatever is necessary to get us over that hump,' because, for whatever reason, the previous regime did not."
The one fact some fans are concerned with is the fact that Allen is set to turn 30-years-old this offseason, and time is running out to get the job done in Buffalo.
"I feel bad for Josh Allen. I think we're wasting his talent. He comes along once in a lifetime, and I think we've wasted him," Sherri said with WBEN. "We obviously need better players, and that all goes to Brandon Beane and hiring the people that they need, not only the starters but obviously the people who are there on their on their practice team for when everybody gets hurt. We've had too many injuries and not enough people to replace them. If you're not going to give Josh Allen the weapons that he needs, we're not going to get anywhere."
Brady is set to be formally introduced as the franchise's 21st head coach on Thursday at 12 p.m.
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