The Buffalo Bills finalized Joe Brady’s first coaching staff, and the mix of experience and continuity says a lot about how this team plans to win now.
When the Buffalo Bills finalized Joe Brady’s first coaching staff this past week, the takeaway wasn’t excitement or concern. It was more about clarity.
This staff doesn’t feel like one that’s trying to win a press conference or impress people outside the building. It feels like a group put together by a first-time head coach who understands exactly what he needs around him, and what he doesn’t.
That starts with experience.
Brady isn’t just stepping into a new role. He’s stepping into one of the most demanding jobs in all of professional sports, leading an NFL team that expects to continue being a contender.
That’s why the presence of someone like former Panthers, Broncos, and Bears head coach John Fox matters, even if his role isn’t flashy. Fox has been through everything. Winning seasons, losing seasons, locker room issues, playoff pressure, and the day-to-day grind that comes with being in charge. He’s not here to run anything. He’s here because Brady will need a voice in the room who’s already lived it.
That kind of hire tells you Brady isn’t pretending he has all the answers.
It also tells you the Bills are serious about supporting him, not just handing him the keys and hoping it works. Fox doesn’t need a major title to be valuable. His value comes from perspective, and that’s something Brady hasn’t had the chance to build yet on his own.
Beyond that, the rest of the staff feels intentionally steady.
The Bills didn’t blow everything up. They kept continuity where it made sense and made targeted changes where they felt upgrades were necessary.
Offensively, the choices reflect an understanding of what matters most right now. This team still runs through Josh Allen. That hasn’t changed. When assistants leave other situations to come to Buffalo, it’s not hard to connect the dots.
Replacing Aaron Kromer as the offensive line coach was always going to be difficult, but bringing in Pat Meyer from the Pittsburgh Steelers to coach the offensive line feels like a practical response.
At wide receiver, the staff quietly acknowledges where this roster is headed. Development is going to matter as the Bills might not be able to chase a high-priced solution at the position. Drew Terrell is a coach who can do just that, especially with a young player like Keon Coleman.
On the defensive side of the ball, the message appears clearer.
This unit has to be better in big moments. That’s been the conversation for years, and nothing about this staff suggests the Bills are avoiding that reality. The emphasis is on aggression, pressure, and putting players in a position to attack instead of react. Whether that works will depend on personnel, but philosophically, it’s a shift worth noting.
No matter where you look, however, the theme of support seems strong with this staff.
Support for a head coach learning the job. Support for a roster that’s still trying to win now. Support for a quarterback whose prime years matter more than anything else in the building.
This isn’t a staff designed to make headlines. It’s a staff designed to function. And at this stage, that might be exactly what the Bills need.
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