The Buffalo Bills enter the 2026 season brand new and ready to win the franchise's first Super Bowl. Out goes longtime head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons, and in comes the energetic young offensive coordinator Joe Brady as the team's new head coach.
The team will also be introducing their brand-new Highmark Stadium across the street from the old Highmark Stadium.
With all the recent changes come peak optimism about the Bills' championship run. Head coach Joe Brady faces a very difficult task that most Bills fans don't know about. That other promoted assistant coaches in the NFL have historically failed to reach at least one Super Bowl during their tenures.
Let's take a look at the daunting task of how Joe Brady can be the first promoted assistant coach from their previously fired coach to win a Super Bowl with the Buffalo Bills.
Can Joe Brady fix haunting task as head coach?
The Bills right now have better vibes since promoting Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach. After firing longtime head coach Sean McDermott, the reality is that promoting an assistant who was on the previous head coach's staff usually doesn't lead to a Super Bowl championship.
It was time for the team to make a needed change. To keep the organization sharp, on the ball, and moving forward. But to fire the head coach and promote the offensive coordinator? How does that give the Bills the new beginning they need to get to the "Big Game"?
With Brady taking over for the team and McDermott already there for nine years, it was time for McDermott to go; however, maybe Brady, going on five years with the team, had a hand in some of the Bills' struggles, too.
Can Joe Brady break the cycle?
Several instances where assistant coaches took over for their former bosses were Brian Schottenheimer in 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, Freddie Kitchens with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, Ray Rhodes in 1999 with the Green Bay Packers, and Rich Kotite in 1991 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
None of these leaders coached their team to the Super Bowl. Kotite was the only one on this list who had both a winning record and at least one playoff appearance during his tenure. Of all the coaches listed, the stats are not favorable for Brady at all.
Whether Brady works out or not, the Bills knew that after nine years of doing the same thing with the same result, McDermott being let go was the right option. If it wasn't going to be him, it may have been Brandon Beane.
The team definitely needs a new leader for 2026; however, will Brady be enough to turn things around, and was firing McDermott the answer to the Bills' daunting problems? Only time will tell.
So, Bills fans, let's hope that Brady can be the first assistant promoted to head coach to take his team to the Super Bowl.
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