Joe Brady has flipped the Buffalo Bills’ culture on its head and players are loving every bit of it so far during the offseason
Sometimes a relationship simply runs its course and a fresh start is needed. Joe Brady is giving the Buffalo Bills just that as its new head coach.
Attention to detail and discipline are key elements needed to win games in the NFL, but it’s also important for players to have fun.
I mean, this is a game, after all. Under Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills were a tight ship that didn’t allow much room for “play”, so to speak.
But that’s changed with Joe Brady at the helm. The first-time head coach has brought forth a new energy and aura that’s quite the opposite of the disciplinary prioritization McDermott instilled.
And most importantly, Buffalo Bills players are buying in.
First-time, 36-year-old head coach Joe Brady wants to establish himself as a players’ coach. Thus, the demeanor around One Bills Drive has flipped. Although taskmaster Sean McDermott loosened up over his last few seasons, his no-nonsense reputation was earned the moment he arrived in 2017 and always hovered. Now, high-ranking Bills staffers watch players whooping around the practice field and remark how Brady is “a breath of fresh air.” …
… More than football drills, field-day competitions like tug-of-war and obstacle courses took place at OTAs, where obscene music blared across the practice fields. Players rave about how cool Brady is, but can he develop an authoritative voice? Or will he maintain substitute teacher vibes? … If Buffalo’s new regime oversees uncharacteristic blunders while the players revel in a friendlier environment — the mood will shift from “Wow, fun” to “Whoa, what’s going on?”
tim graham
The Athletic
Joe Brady has senior leadership on the Buffalo Bills staff to help keep things on the right path
Sure, Brady doesn’t want to create too “loose” an environment and he has plenty of coaches on his staff to help him avoid doing so.
The first and most obvious name is senior assistant, John Fox, a former head coach himself who took the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos to separate Super Bowl appearances in 2003 and 2013, respectively. He was head coach for a total of 16 seasons in the league and amassed a 133-123 (.520) record with the aforementioned teams and the Chicago Bears.
Fox not only has plenty of experience to help Brady navigate tough waters, but he also coached legendary and high-personality players like Peyton Manning and Steve Smith Sr. In other words: He’s shown he can get the best out of high-profile players, as well as win games at a high level.
That doesn’t just happen in the NFL. Fox’s experience will undoubtedly come in handy during Brady’s first year as Buffalo Bills head coach.
Then there’s offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., who was never a head coach but worked directly under future Hall of Famer Sean Payton for 16 seasons. He was on the 2009 Super Bowl staff, as well, so he also knows what it takes to win a championship.
So it’s easy to see why there’s reason to think becoming too lax is a possibility and how that would affect the Buffalo Bills, but Brady ultimately has the right pieces in place to help keep that from happening.