The confusing saga of the Buffalo Bills' search for a new head coach has finally come to an end. They announced on Tuesday that they are promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the head coaching role.
Brady is a worthy candidate, but the timing of the move is a bit confusing. Bills' owner Terry Pegula made some unforgettable comments about the team's coaching staff after firing Sean McDermott, clearly stating that it was their decision to draft wide receiver Keon Coleman back in 2024.
By choosing to promote a member of that same coaching staff, Pegula is making the team's thoughts on Coleman clear.
Keon Coleman's days in Buffalo are numbered after Bills promote Joe Brady
Shortly after the explosive press conference in which Pegula absolved general manager Brandon Beane from any responsibility for the Coleman pick, NFL analyst Matt Harmon commented on the confusing nature of Brady's inclusion in the coaching search.
Harmon said, "Not only is Coleman still on the roster, they’re also interviewing a member of that coaching staff (the OC) for the head coaching job, who you’d assume based on what they’re saying was one of the people who pushed the pick."
Now that Brady is being promoted to the position of head coach, Pegula's comments seem even more ridiculous. But one thing is obvious: the owner would not have made this decision if Brady wasn't ready to move on from Coleman. Clearly, the new head coach is aligned with the rest of the organization on the matter.
Coleman's only chance of reviving his career with the Bills was the opportunity of working with a new coaching staff. With a fresh start, he may have been able to work his way back into the starting lineup. Now, he has almost no chance of becoming a relevant player for the Bills again. In all likelihood, he'll be cut or traded this offseason. It's hard to see how the organization could keep him after making such public comments about the pick.
The Bills' decision to move on from Brady and their search for a new head coach have been embarrassing from the start. With the added layer of Brady's apparent involvement with picking Coleman in the first place and his new promotion, the whole thing is beginning to look like a joke. Brady may still be able to help the Bills achieve their goals, but he likely won't be doing it with Coleman on the field.