When the Buffalo Bills take the field to open up the 2026 season, it will start a new era at One Bills Drive. Not just because of their new stadium that is set to open up, but because of the changes that took place this offseason. Since 2017, it has been Sean McDermott leading the Bills as the head coach.
McDermott turned around the organization and helped the Bills become a consistent contender and was the best head coach in franchise history since Marv Levy. At the same time, McDermott could never get over the hump in the playoffs and a big reason was because of his defense.
The loss to the Denver Broncos in last season’s playoffs was the last straw and McDermott was fired after nine seasons in Buffalo. Now, it’s the Joe Brady show who was promoted to head coach from offensive coordinator. Lots of people don’t like the decision, but it’s official and it was time for a change because what had been done under McDermott just wasn’t enough anymore.
Even though the Bills have a new coaching staff for the most part, Brady keeps continuity as he has been calling the offense since the middle of the 2023 season. He has helped Buffalo establish one of the best offenses in the league, which included the league’s best rushing attack last season led by James Cook.
Brady was bound to get a head coaching job at some point and the Bills made the choice to keep him in the building rather than going somewhere else. Since becoming the offensive coordinator, Brady has gained respect by players in the locker room and he should bring a different type of atmosphere as the head coach, which could look a lot more different than what McDermott had.
A fan-favorite recently spoke on what Brady is like and what he will bring to the locker room, and it's exactly what Bills fans need to hear.
Dion Dawkins explains big difference between Joe Brady and Sean McDermott
Bills’ left tackle Dion Dawkins recently talked with Andrew Siciliano from Inside Coverage and Siciliano asked Dawkins what he would say if he was asked what Joe Brady was like. Dawkins compared Brady to the state of Florida and said “he’s energized, he’s happy, he’s always smiling.” Dawkins also said that Brady is “the vibe that our locker room has and needs.”
In addition, Dawkins talked about how the swag is different with Brady to where the Bills “are not in military uniforms like McD [McDermott]” but did mention how it’s a “great way of coaching, it’s just a different course of your team.”
Dion Dawkins on Joe Brady:
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 27, 2026
"He's Florida. He's swagged up."
"He's the vibe that our locker room has and needs."
"We're not in military uniforms like McD, which is also a great way of coaching. It's just a different course of your team."
📺 Inside Coverage - @YahooSports pic.twitter.com/I4kwVopSOw
You can easily tell that Brady and McDermott have different styles. McDermott’s style worked as far as turning the culture around for the better and establishing a championship contender. However, it wasn’t what the Bills needed now as their Super Bowl window is only going to be open for just a little bit while.
With Brady now coming in as the head coach, the hope is that he will be able to do what McDermott couldn’t, and deliver a Super Bowl to Bills Mafia. Who knows if what he will bring to the team as the main leader is what the Bills need, but fans know that players love what Brady has been like as a coordinator and he has delivered great offensive results with limited playmakers.
All that fans can do is wait and see what Brady can do in his first year as the Bills head coach. There will be some growing pains and Brady is bound to make mistakes, but the Bills needed a change from what they have had for nearly a decade.