Bills’ Joe Brady looks to the past to help build the future with latest team decision
Joe Brady has been busy since becoming the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills are wasting no time bringing in some reinforcements under new head coach Joe Brady. Ever since his introductory press conference, the team has been moving fast, bringing in different assistants and coordinators. It’s going to look different at One Bills Drive in 2026.
The team is not only going to have a new stadium and head coach, but some additional pieces have been added to the mix as of Monday morning. Adam Schefter broke the news about two additional hires coming to Buffalo, and it’s a huge win for the organization.
New York Giants linebacker coach John Egorugwu and Oklahoma’s assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai are joining the new staff under Joe Brady.
A return to Buffalo for Egorugwu
For Egorugwu, it’s a return to Buffalo, where he had spent the 2017-2020 seasons. He initially served as the defensive quality control coach before being promoted to assistant linebackers coach and defensive quality control coach.
During his stint with the Buffalo Bills, the team went 38-26, and according to SumerSports, in 2018 the Bills’ defense ranked fourth in EPA per drive, eighth in defensive EPA per game in 2019, and fourth in defensive efficiency in 2020.
After the 2020 season, Egorugwu joined the New York Giants as their inside linebackers coach, where he held the position until 2025. He’ll be holding the same position in Buffalo, the linebackers coach, and gets another chance to don the red, white, and blue of the Buffalo Bills. It’s a welcome reunion for one of the best coaches in the game.
Bigger and better things ahead for Jay Valai
Buffalo just loves their defensive backs from Wisconsin. The new defensive coordinator, Jim Leonhard, played as a defensive back for Wisconsin from 2001-2004, and it’s not the only inspiration the team is getting from the Badgers. The newest addition to the cornerbacks’ room is the new cornerbacks coach Jay Valai, who also played for Wisconsin, though not at the time Leonhard did. Valai was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten player in 2008 and 2009.
Valai began his coaching career at Georgia as a defensive quality control coach from 2016 to 2017 before jumping ship to the NFL. Valai worked under head coach Andy Reid as the defensive quality control coach in 2018, before jumping back to the college game in 2019, where he served as the cornerbacks coach for Rutgers.
In 2020 and 2021, he served in the same position for Texas and Alabama. From 2022 to 2026, Valai was the cornerbacks coach and the co-defensive coordinator for Oklahoma.
Between a familiar face in Egorugwu and a proven developer like Valai, the Bills are stacking their defensive staff with coaches who know how to teach and maximize talent. As Brady continues to shape his vision, Buffalo’s emphasis on defense is coming into focus, and it’s clear this staff is being built with purpose. The offseason is just getting started, Bills Mafia. Buckle up.
Buffalo Bills News
Bills get a massive win that will greatly impact 2026 and beyond, and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for the organization
A huge win for the Buffalo Bills in the early stages of the offseason.
