Bills just copied a subtle Seahawks move that paid off big

On Friday, the Buffalo Bills announced that first-year head coach Joe Brady’s coaching staff for the 2026 season has been finalized. Brady’s staff will include 20 assistant coaches in addition to new coordinators Pete Carmichael, Jr., on offense, Jim Leonhard on defense, and Jeff Rodgers for special teams.

Several of the names listed are simply confirmations of hires that had already been reported, such as Pat Meyer taking over the offensive line and Bobby April working with the outside linebackers. 

However, there was one new name that Bills Mafia learned about, as former NFL head coach John Fox was listed as the Bills’ senior assistant coach. While it’s been well over a decade since Fox has enjoyed much success in the NFL, it is a move that should pique the curiosity of the fanbase. After all, it mirrors a similar move made by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

How Bills' quiet John Fox addition mirrors Seattle’s championship blueprint

Of course, Seattle isn’t the only team to ever hire a former NFL head coach to serve as a senior assistant or assistant head coach, but the Seahawks did bring in Leslie Frazier, who Bills Mafia is more than familiar with, as a veteran voice to help guide Mike Macdonald as the team’s head coach. It appears that Buffalo is making a similar move here with Fox joining Brady’s staff.

Of course, in Seattle’s case, Frazier is a defensive mind helping a defensive-minded head coach. That won’t be the case in Buffalo as Fox and Brady specialize on opposite sides of the ball. Fox could be a solid voice for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, though, seeing as it his first official coordinator position in the league.

That said, it’s not as though Frazier has any input on Macdonald’s defense in Seattle. It’s Macdonald’s scheme, game plan, and playcalling. Frazier’s role as assistant head coach allows him to serve as Macdonald’s voice in a total team setting, similar to how Pete Carmichael explained his role under Brady for the offense. Beyond that, he’s a supportive voice for Macdonald, who just won a Super Bowl in his second season on the job.

For Buffalo, Fox brings nearly 50 years of coaching experience to the Bills’ franchise, which, like Carmichael, can help balance things out in the building with younger voices serving in top leadership positions without extensive experience.

Hiring Fox, who has appeared in two Super Bowls, isn’t going to guarantee Buffalo replicates Seattle’s quick turnaround or that they’ll start winning championships. It likely won’t have a visible impact for fans whatsoever. But it is one of those quiet moves that can have a great deal of impact in the day-to-day operation at One Bills Drive.