The Buffalo Bills should consider themselves extremely lucky now that the 2025 head coach hiring cycle has all but died down. Despite a tremendous 2024 season that may end up with Josh Allen earning an MVP, offensive coordinator Joe Brady was not hired away by any of the seven needy teams.
That won't erase the fact that Brady will enter the 2026 cycle as arguably the top assistant available. Still just 35 years old and with a host of productive offensive seasons on his resume, teams looking for a boost of offensive energy should be all over Brady during the next hiring period.
The Bills need to be very wary of these three teams, as they could take Sean McDermott's top assistant away from him with the promise of giving him a high-end quarterback he can grow alongside. Even after a subpar postseason, Brady's status as an elite offensive mind has not wavered.
3 teams who could hire Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady as head coach in 2026
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have to be furious with the last few hiring cycles. Not only have they lost two quality offensive coordinators in Dave Canales and Liam Coen in consecutive seasons, but Tampa Bay has lost their best in-house replacements for aging defensive coach Todd Bowles.
The Buccaneers are in a weak division, have an ascending quarterback in Baker Mayfield, and are led by a GM who assembled a champion in Jason Licht. Brady can afford to be picky with his destination, though Tampa would satisfy many of the questions he has.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
While Zac Taylor did get to a Super Bowl, and Cincinnati has historically been an extremely patient organization as it pertains to coaches, one more year of wasting the prime of Joe Burrow's football journey might be enough to force a change. Brady would be tripping over himself to move from Allen to Burrow.
Brady's quick-strike offense paired with Burrow's deadeye accuracy could end up getting the Bengals back to the AFC's elite after a few years in the doldrums. Buffalo would be irate seeing him leave for a rival in this fashion.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have only had three head coaches since 1969. One trait Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin all shared was their defensive background. It might finally be time for the Rooney family to go in a different direction when hiring their coaches, as Brady's offensive mind is too good to pass up.
The Steelers have lacked offensive innovation and high-end quarterback play since the decline of Ben Roethlisberger. Brady's mind paired with a quarterback who can make quick decisions could help give Pittsburgh the kick in the rear end they need.