Joe Brady 'Jolt' May Be Just What Bills Need to Reclaim AFC East

Buffalo Bills' owner Terry Pegula had seen enough.

After another gut-wrenching postseason loss that left quarterback Josh Allen in emotional disarray, Pegula made ninth-year head coach Sean McDermott pay the price.

Dumping the defensive-minded McDermott for the Bills' failure to break through the "playoff wall" during his tenure, Pegula promoted 36-year-old offensive coordinator Joe Brady up to the head coach's office.

It's worth noting that five-time MVP finalist Josh Allen was consulted during the hiring process, and Bills' brass did not want to lose continuity on what has been a NFL Top 3 scoring offense under Brady's direction.

Bills head coach Joe Brady makes his way through players including Ty Johnson who were congratulating Brady and hugging him after the press conference introducing him as the new head coach at the Bills field house in Orchard Park on Jan. 29, 2026. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With Brady as a first-time head coach of a team that carries massive expectations, there's naturally a question of how Buffalo will fare over the course of a grueling 18-week NFL schedule.

Sports Illustrated senior reporter Albert Breer fielded a mailbag question on the topic, and his detailed answer seems to match the prevailing sentiment amongst Bills Mafia.

In 2025, the Bills won 12 regular season games, but failed to win the AFC East for the first time in six years. Making matters more frustrating for Buffalo, the New England Patriots and second-year quarterback Drake Maye advanced to Super Bowl LX.

The Patriots' reign over the division, however, may be short lived according to Breer's best guess.

"My guess is the Bills will win the AFC East and contend for a Super Bowl title this year," said Breer after laying out his reasoning.

The Joe Brady jolt

If Brady's promotion delivers the intended effect, then Buffalo will find a way to recalibrate and reclaim the division crown that it monopolized from 2020 through 2024.

"I do think Joe Brady’s perspective could give a Bills team that’s become a perennial contender a little added jolt," said Breer. "Brady interviewed exceptionally well with other teams over the years, and the step back he took in Carolina, after leaving LSU, was more circumstantial than anything. He’s bright, has good vision for an offense and a team, and I think he has the swagger to energize the group."

While the team was always playoff-caliber during the McDermott era, a new voice at the front of the room figures to make a difference for a group that's been so close, but unable to knock down the door.

First-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who brings 10 years of playing experience as a NFL safety, sees Brady as an effective communicator. Prior to spending two seasons with the Denver Broncos, Leonhard was the interim head coach for Wisconsin, so, presumably, his perspective holds added value.

"He knows how to talk. He knows how to communicate and get buy-in from a team. That's exciting," said Leonhard. "He's willing to go up there and say the hard thing. Obviously, it's pretty low stress in the offseason, but at the same time, the messaging, I thought, has been really good with the team."

What about Jim Leonhard and the defense?

The mailbag reader also raised the question of the Leonhard-led defensive makeover and if the proper personnel is present to successfully move to a 3-4 front.

Breer's answer hints that an upgrade could be in store for the Bills on that side of the ball.

"I also think that Jim Leonhard has a chance to be one of the best defensive coordinators in football pretty quickly, and could be a head coach within two or three years," said Breer. "He’ll be creative, and the Bills have done a good job getting some scheme fits—like veteran Bradley Chubb and rookie T.J. Parker—to better facilitate Leonhard’s system."

We wrote about the seemingly aligned vision between Brady and Leonhard that emerged early during the offseason.

Although the leadership has changed in key spots, the expectations for the Bills remain the same — conquer the AFC and get to the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.

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