Former New Orleans Saints assistant coach Pete Carmichael Jr will serve as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator this fall.

Carmichael Jr, who was hired by new Bills head coach Joe Brady in late January, previously served as the Saints’ offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2023. He served as a senior offensive assistant under Sean Payton with the Denver Broncos the last two seasons.

Payton called plays for most of Carmichael’s time with the Saints (except for the last two seasons — 2022 and 2023 — after Payton resigned).

It’ll be a similar setup in Buffalo as Brady will call plays for the Bills in 2026.

There could be situations, however, where Carmichael will need to call plays.

“Pete game plans to call the game,” said Brady earlier this offseason. “I think sometimes people think an offensive coordinator that’s a non-play caller is just kind of like an assistant or is just getting everything ready for you. That’s not what I was looking for, and that’s not what Pete is. If I ever, in any moment of the game, can’t call the game, Pete is always prepared to call it.”

You never know what could happen during the course of a season.

Payton, in fact, told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently that Carmichael had to call plays for the Saints’ offense for an extended period in 2011 after he tore his MCL and fractured his tibia.

And Payton said Carmichael did a terrific job.

“Pete called probably, I’m going to say, seven, eight, nine games,” said Payton. “I don’t recall when we transitioned back and it’s unimportant to me. That was a really good offense and Pete was fantastic.”

The Bills are currently working through whether Carmichael will be in the booth or on the sideline on game day.

Brady’s plan, of course, is to call plays and for everything to go smoothly on game days. But things happen, and there will likely be some times — whether it’s a series, a half, or multiple games — where Carmichael needs to call plays. And if that happens, Bills fans should feel confident that Carmichael can handle the job.