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Joe Brady

2024 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

February 1st, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders’ hire has wrapped this year’s cycle. Barring a team making an 11th-hour change, the 2024 HC carousel has come to a stop. The final breakdown produced five defensive coaches being hired compared to three with backgrounds on offense. Many teams are still searching for offensive and defensive coordinators, however.

Updated 2-1-24 (10:37am CT)

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

  • Jerod Mayo, linebackers coach (Patriots): Hired

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Bills Make Joe Brady Full-Time OC

January 28th, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Brady will have a chance to continue in his current position. As the Bills considered outside options as well, their interim OC was believed to be the favorite for the job. He now has it.

The Bills will remove Brady’s interim tag and make him their full-time play-caller, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. This will be Brady’s second stint as a full-time NFL OC. The Panthers employed him as such from 2020-21. Known to hire an ex-Panther or two under current management, the Bills have announced the decision.

While the Bills have earned their Panthers North identity during Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott‘s stewardship, the Brady connection is more coincidental compared to the other Carolina importing calls Buffalo has made. Brady’s Panthers stay came well after McDermott and Beane had arrived in Buffalo. Still, Brady trekked to Buffalo after a two-season run in Charlotte. Although he came to the Bills as a quarterbacks coach, the ex-LSU pass-game coordinator is back in a high-profile job.

The Bills only lost twice with Brady in place as OC, though a production spike did not occur after he took over. The team did better incorporate emerging Pro Bowler James Cook into the offense and grow comfortable under Brady, doing so despite a concerning second-half production dip from Stefon Diggs. The Bills finished sixth in scoring and fourth in total offense — down from second in both categories in 2022 — and third in DVOA during its Dorsey-Brady season.

Important in the Brady OC equation, Diggs and Cook are auxiliary pieces. Josh Allen‘s performance will play the lead role in determining how long Brady stays in this job, with HC interest sure to follow — in a period that features built-in advantages for offense-oriented HC candidates — if Allen stays on course as one of the NFL’s best players. Brady, 34, conducted his first HC interview in three years this offseason, meeting virtually with the Falcons. Brady mentored Teddy Bridgewater to what remains the top Panthers QB showing post-Cam Newton, but Matt Rhule fired his OC late in a 2021 season primarily featuring Sam Darnold at the controls.

Allen vouched for Brady, joining others in that regard. The superstar passer sported his best completion rate (66.5%) since 2020 and displayed run-game dominance under Brady. Allen runs became an essential part of the Bills’ late-season blueprint, and all four his 50-plus-yard performances on the ground this season came after Brady replaced Ken Dorsey. McDermott expressed interest in limiting Allen runs this past offseason, as less punishment in that area will help extend his career. But Allen showed the historically rare skillset he provides in the Bills’ final three games, totaling 213 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins, Steelers and Chiefs.

While Brady will need to strike an appropriate balance regarding the team’s reliance on Allen’s rushing chops, Cook’s emergence will help. That said, the Bills will need to recapture the Allen-Diggs connection that transformed the 2018 first-rounder’s career. Not only did all five of Diggs’ 100-yard games this season occur on Dorsey’s watch, but the star wideout managed just one 80-yard performance with Brady at the controls. Although defenses undoubtedly key on Diggs, the Bills will need to see more from their $24MM-per-year receiver in 2024.

This will be a pivotal offseason for the Bills, who are only the third team since the NFL shifted to record-based playoff seeding in 1975 to lose home divisional-round games in back-to-back years. Just the 1986-87 Bears and 1976-77 Colts match this. As the highest-ranking offensive coach in the building, Brady will become central to the organization’s quest to win its long-elusive Super Bowl.

Bills To Interview Joe Brady For Full-Time OC Position

January 25th, 2024 at 2:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

While an ill-timed wind gust is partially responsible for the Bills’ divisional-round elimination, the team’s offense struggled to make explosive plays in its 27-24 loss to the Chiefs. The Bills are now conducting a search to determine if they will once again chance offensive coordinators.

Buffalo fired Ken Dorsey midway through his second season as OC, giving way to Joe Brady‘s second run as an NFL play-caller. The Bills remain interested in Brady, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicating the team will interview him for the full-time OC post. Brady took over on an interim basis in November and held the job through season’s end.

[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

The Bills only lost twice with Brady in place as OC, though a production spike did not occur after he took over. The team did better incorporate James Cook into the offense and grow comfortable under Brady, doing so despite a concerning second-half production dip from Stefon Diggs. The Bills finished sixth in scoring and fourth in total offense — down from second in both categories in 2022 — and third in DVOA during its Dorsey-Brady season.

Josh Allen has vouched for Brady, with The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia offering that several Bills offensive players have done the same (subscription required). While Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott said they were not ready to discuss the staff, each praised Brady for his performance back in a coordinator role. Brady, 34, also received his first HC interview request (from the Falcons) since 2021.

Brady, 34, joined Matt Rhule‘s Panthers staff in 2020, helping Teddy Bridgewater to what remains the best Carolina QB season since injuries brought down Cam Newton beginning in 2018. But Rhule fired Brady during the 2021 campaign. The Bills hired the former LSU pass-game coordinator in 2022, bringing him aboard as QBs coach.

Brian Daboll‘s 2022 exit has impacted the Bills, who employed the current Giants HC as their play-caller for four seasons. It will be interesting to see if more names enter this search, but Buscaglia labels Brady the favorite. Giving Brady a full offseason to work in this capacity would make sense, given the recent turnover at this position. Then again, the Bills lost a home divisional-round game for the second straight year. That naturally warrants an examination into where the team stands on both sides of the ball.

Falcons, Commanders Request Second HC Interviews With Lions’ Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn

January 23rd, 2024 at 12:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

12:13pm: Joining the Falcons in expressing considerable interest in Detroit’s coordinators, Washington will also schedule second interviews with Glenn and Johnson, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds. These meetings are set to take place in Detroit next week. Teams cannot interview staffers attached to the four conference championship-bound teams this week, injecting a hiccup into these assistants’ timetables on the HC carousel.

A second Commanders-Johnson summit has long been expected. Josh Harris‘ club has been high on the two-year OC for a bit now. The Panthers remain interested in Johnson, however, as they have been tied to the North Carolina native for some time. While Glenn was believed to be in the mix for the Titans’ HC job, the AFC South team has since hired Brian Callahan.

11:05am: The Falcons continue to cast a wide net in their search for a new head coach. Atlanta has requested a second interview with Lions offensive and defensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein reports.

[RELATED: Head Coaching Search Tracker]

Both interviews will take place in person, but the team will need to wait for them to take place. With the Lions having advanced to the NFC championship game, neither Johnson nor Glenn are permitted to meet with prospective teams until next week. The Falcons do have a number of other interviews to get through in the coming days, however.

For some time now, Bill Belichick has been the name most frequently linked to Atlanta’s vacancy. A recent report indicated the position is open for the six-time Super Bowl winner if he desires it, and Belichick has already interviewed twice. The Falcons are believed to be eyeing head coaching experience – a departure from owner Arthur Blank‘s previous hires – something which would lend itself to candidates such as Belichick and Jim Harbaugh.

Nevertheless, it comes as little surprise that Johnson in particular continues to receive significant interest. The 37-year-old was a top HC candidate last year despite his age and lack of experience as a play-caller. He has only two years under his belt in the latter department, but his success with Detroit’s offense has made him one of the top staffers available. Johnson is believed to be the top target for the Panthers and Commanders.

Glenn has also been one of the most popular staffers in the 2024 cycle. He has met once with the Falcons, but also the Chargers, Titans and Commanders. This follow-up with the Falcons will mark the first time this year that he interviews for a second time, however. Glenn has routinely drawn praise from Lions head coach Dan Campbell, and Detroit did manage its best showing to date with him at the helm (including a second-place ranking against the run) this season.

The Falcons have a number of notable options to choose from, but a dark horse candidate could be Bills OC Joe Brady. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes that Brady is a name worth watching in the event a more established coach like Belichick or Harbaugh does not land the Atlanta gig. The 34-year-old had a two-year OC stint with the Panthers before joining the Bills’ staff last year. He replaced Ken Dorsey midway through the 2023 campaign, and the team’s success down the stretch could make him a logical candidate to be retained on a full-time basis. Brady was, as Breer notes, though, the runner-up to Arthur Smith when the latter was hired.

Here is an updated look at the Falcons’ search:

Falcons Request Joe Brady HC Interview

January 19th, 2024 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Brady‘s two months as the Bills’ interim offensive coordinator have landed him back on the head coaching radar. The Buffalo assistant received a request from the Falcons regarding their HC position, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

In his second season with the Bills, Brady has not interviewed for an NFL HC job since 2021. That offseason brought a host of interviews for the former Panthers OC. The Eagles, Chargers, Jets, Texans and Falcons met with Brady about HC vacancies. After firing the coach they hired during that cycle (Arthur Smith), the Falcons want to check in on Brady once again.

The Bills hired Brady, 34, as quarterbacks coach in 2022, doing so after they promoted Ken Dorsey to OC to replace Brian Daboll. Dorsey’s stretch did produce impressive statistics, and the Bills went 13-3 last season — one that saw a game removed from their schedule following Damar Hamlin‘s life-threatening injury. But Buffalo flamed out in the divisional round and began this season making mistakes that pushed this year’s team to the wild-card fringe. This led to the Bills firing Dorsey and promoting Brady in November.

While the offensive statistics have not spiked under Brady, the Bills are 6-1 in his OC tenure — with the loss featuring Josh Allen accounting for 420 yards against the Eagles. The team has also leaned more on James Cook, who finished with 1,567 scrimmage yards — the most by a Buffalo running back since LeSean McCoy in 2017.

A former pass-game coordinator with LSU’s unbeaten 2019 national championship team, Brady spent two seasons as Panthers OC before being fired during the 2021 campaign.

The Falcons have already gone far down the road with Bill Belichick. The NFL’s second-winningest coach is meeting with team brass this weekend, making it possible the team will not get to all of its interviews requested. Courtesy of PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how Atlanta’s candidate list looks as of Friday afternoon:

Latest On Bills HC Sean McDermott, GM Brandon Beane

November 19th, 2023 at 10:30am CST by Rory Parks

The Bills entered the 2023 season on the short list of Super Bowl favorites, but Buffalo currently sports a 5-5 record and has a difficult schedule over the remainder of the campaign. With the team already having moved on from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, it is fair to wonder if even more significant changes could be on the horizon.

Both Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) used the terms “scapegoat” and “scapegoating” when describing Dorsey’s recent dismissal. As Russini writes, head coach Sean McDermott told reporters that he fired Dorsey following the Bills’ narrow loss to the Broncos last week because he felt his team could not walk back into the locker room without knowing something had changed. That is about as blunt as a coach will be when it comes to publicly assigning blame, and since the team has bid adieu to both of its top coordinators in less than a year — longtime defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier stepped away in February — the pressure is squarely on McDermott to right the ship (interestingly, La Canfora said the Frazier situation was fueled by panic-stricken scapegoating, which suggests that his exit was not entirely voluntary, as had been presumed).

Scapegoat or not, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News believes it was the right call to part ways with Dorsey, whose scheme lacked creativity and whose play-calling had become predictable in Skurski’s eyes. That said, while Skurski believes McDermott will be on the hot seat if the Bills miss the playoffs, he does not believe McDermott will be fired. After all, Buffalo snapped its 17-year playoff drought in McDermott’s first season at the helm in 2017, and McDermott has posted a 67-40 regular season record while failing to qualify for the postseason field just once from 2017-22. La Canfora also hears from rival execs that McDermott has built up enough goodwill to survive one disappointing campaign.

However, additional staff shakeups should be expected. McDermott took over defensive play-calling duties in the wake of Frazier’s departure, and the Bills have slipped from sixth in the league in total defense in 2022 to 17th in 2023. While injuries have certainly played a major role in that regression, McDermott’s failed decision to call an all-out blitz in the Denver loss and the subsequent special teams snafu that allowed the Broncos a second chance at the game-winning field goal support one rival GM’s belief — as articulated to La Canfora — that Bills ownership will not allow McDermott to continue as de facto DC and defensive play-caller in 2024.

That same general manager does not believe that the Buffalo offense will find its footing under interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The GM said Brady’s scheme was proven to be a flawed one during his brief stint as OC with the Panthers, though Albert Breer of SI.com reports that most people within Carolina’s organization saw Brady as an imaginative and detail-oriented coach, and that Brady’s ouster was fueled primarily by a personality clash with then-head coach Matt Rhule. Still, should the Bills’ offense falter under Brady’s stewardship, Skurski believes McDermott will also be looking for a new offensive coordinator in the offseason.

GM Brandon Beane, who came to Buffalo alongside McDermott in 2017, also seems like a good bet to keep his job, as Skurski suggests. While La Canfora reports that team ownership is getting a bit restless, it should be noted that both Beane and McDermott were handed thru-2027 extensions earlier this year. Their contract situations and their track records may afford them the chance to return the Bills to powerhouse status, but if Buffalo misses the playoffs in 2023 and does not exhibit marked improvement in 2024, Beane and McDermott will likely be looking for new employment.

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 28th, 2023 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Chargers Request OC Interview With Bills’ Joe Brady

January 24th, 2023 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Joe Brady is emerging as a popular name for offensive coordinator jobs, but it’s uncertain which organizations he’ll speak with. The Chargers are one of the teams that’s requested permission to speak with the Bills QBs coach about their OC vacancy, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).

[RELATED: 2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]

Garafolo adds that Brady has “multiple requests” from teams, and considering his current title, we can assume these mystery suitors are eyeing the coach for OC opportunities. It’s uncertain which (if any) interviews Brady will consider taking, according to Garafolo.

Following a successful stint as LSU, Brady was named the Panthers offensive coordinator for the 2020 campaign. Carolina’s offense was unremarkable during Brady’s tenure, including a 2021 campaign that ultimately led to the coach’s firing (30th in yards and 29th in points). He was hired by the Bills last offseason to be their new QBs coach after Ken Dorsey earned a promotion to OC. Brady managed to rehabilitate his image thanks to Josh Allen‘s MVP-like season, and now he’s firmly back on the OC radar.

Joe Lombardi was canned following a disappointing end to the Chargers’ season. Since his firing, five candidates have emerged:

Jets Interview Klint Kubiak For OC

January 22nd, 2023 at 10:24am CST by Rory Parks

The Jets will interview Klint Kubiak for their offensive coordinator position today, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). This is the first time Kubiak has been connected to an OC vacancy in this year’s cycle.

Kubiak worked as the Broncos’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022, and he took over play-calling duties from then-head coach Nathaniel Hackett in November. Hackett was fired before season’s end, thanks in large part to the difficulties he experienced with in-game management and the unexpected struggles of the Denver offense.

With Kubiak calling plays, the Broncos averaged 18 points per game, which was a marked improvement on the 12.1 PPG figure they managed with Hackett as the play-caller but which was still not an impressive output. On the other hand, the injuries and poor quarterback play that Denver dealt with in 2022 naturally limited the team’s ceiling, and Kubiak had a solid enough showing as the Vikings’ OC and offensive play-caller in 2021, when Minnesota finished 12th in the league in total offense and 14th in yards per game.

Interestingly, the Jets have also interviewed Hackett — along with a host of other candidates — for the OC gig. Whomever gets the job will be joining a club that has a playoff-caliber defense and an offense that, thanks to some young and intriguing skill position talent, could be just a quarterback upgrade away from being a worthy complement to that defense. Gang Green is widely expected to target veteran QB help this offseason and has been connected to the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Derek Carr.

Kubiak, 36 in February, is the son of longtime NFL offensive coordinator and head coach Gary Kubiak. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com says that even if the Jets were to hire Klint, Gary would not be joining the team in any capacity (Twitter link).

In addition to Klint Kubiak, the Jets have officially requested an interview with Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Brady does love his role in Buffalo, however, and he may not be interested in the Jets’ position.

Latest On Jets’ OC Search

January 15th, 2023 at 11:49am CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 15: The Jets are interviewing Marcus Brady today, per Rapoport (via Twitter).

JANUARY 14: The Jets made headlines earlier in the week when they parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. That leaves the team with a significant hole to fill on offense during the coming weeks, but there is no shortage of names being floated around with respect to his potential replacements.

The early favorite appears to be Darrell Bevell. The Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator represents the name mentioned most often for the Jets’ OC vacancy, Connor Hughes of SNY tweets. The 52-year-old is in his first season with Miami, but spent the previous 15 campaigns as an offensive coordinator. That tenure included a stint as the Seahawks’ OC from 2012 to 2017, which earned him a Super Bowl ring.

That time also included overlap with current Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who was a defensive assistant at the time. Bevell saw time with the Vikings as their OC prior to his Seattle stint, and occupied the same role with the Lions and Jaguars. His experience as an interim head coach with the latter two teams – coupled with his role in revitalizing the Dolphins’ offense this year – has made him a potential HC candidate in this year’s cycle.

While it remains to be seen if New York will interview Bevell for the position, they have done so with Eagles passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The meeting took place yesterday, as Patullo prepares to continue his work with the NFC’s top seed. He has been with Philadelphia for the past two seasons, after a three-year stint alongside Nick Sirianni with the Colts in a similar role; he also spent one season with Gang Green prior to that.

The Jets have also requested an interview with Nick Caley, per Pelissero’s colleague Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). He is currently the Patriots’ tight ends coach, a title he has held since 2017. The 39-year-old has exclusively worked in New England during his NFL coaching career, but he spent a decade in the college ranks prior to joining Bill Belichick‘s staff in 2015. Rapoport had previously named Caley as a name to watch, alongside Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson and former Colts OC Marcus Brady (Twitter link).

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer tweets that Bills QBs coach Joe Brady is another potential candidate. He notes that the Jets are “doing homework” on the 33-year-old, who was highly-touted after his work in college (particularly with LSU) when he took on the Panthers’ OC job in 2020. That, much like Matt Rhule‘s tenure in Charlotte, did not go according to plan, however, and he was fired midway through his second season with the team. Brady was hired by the Bills shortly thereafter, as he began the process of rebuilding his stock.

Each of the above names comprise a list of candidates along with the likes of ex-Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, Rams offensive assistant Greg Olson and Chiefs QBs coach Matt Nagy. That trio, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, could all be in the mix, though he adds (via Twitter) that veteran Gary Kubiak is not expected to be a part of the Jets’ search. New York’s process of replacing LaFleur will be worth watching as the team looks to take another step forward on offense in 2023.

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