Bills head coach Joe Brady made a decision that has Buffalo fans seriously divided
Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady made a decision this week that has much of the fan base puzzled.
There’s a lot of optimism surrounding new Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady — specifically thanks to the energy he’s brought to the franchise — but that doesn’t mean he’s immune from making puzzling decisions.
And one of those puzzling decisions — at least in the eyes of some fans — was made this week.
Brady definitively told reporters on Thursday after the Bills’ win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason finale that Maxwell Hairston is Buffalo’s No. 2 cornerback.
“He’s our starting corner,” said Brady. “Maxwell’s got exactly what we look for in a corner, and I was excited for him to be back out playing football. … I know he had the missed tackle, and that’s why we’re practicing, right? That’s why you go through the preseason to feel that and to be able to clean that stuff up. He’s our guy.”
Hairston had a rough rookie season, and many think he was outplayed this summer by Davison Igbinosun, a second-round selection by the Bills in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On Thursday night, Hairston missed a tackle in the open field that allowed Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard to scamper into the end zone for a touchdown.
While the decision from Brady has the fan base divided, I think he’s doing the right thing here. Hairston has elite traits, and he’s still a young player. Benching him to start the 2026 season would just kill his confidence. The Bills need Hairston to be an impact player. And he certainly has the talent to be one.
If Hairston continues to struggle, then Buffalo is in a good spot with Igbinosun waiting in the wings. But for now, giving Hairston a shot in a new defense is the right move.
