Entering the Buffalo Bills‘ head coach search, General Manager Brandon Beane made one thing clear: everything will be about quarterback Josh Allen. As they announced Joe Brady as Sean McDermott’s successor, that vision has certainly not changed. In fact, as Brady mentioned on Fitz & Whit, the QB’s responsibilities are only going to increase.

“I’m not going to probably be with him as much, but every decision that we make is with him in mind, or he’s going to be involved in it,” Brady discussed how his relationship with Allen could change this Saturday.

“When I was in New Orleans, coach Peyton didn’t make a decision without Drew Brees’ thoughts. And look, they were together for so long that they got to know that. But I think Josh needs to understand. And there’s a lot of ownership in that.”

With the Bills, Brady is stepping into enormous shoes. Sean McDermott left behind a towering résumé, posting a 98-50 regular-season record and going 8-8 in the playoffs. He transformed the Bills into annual contenders at Highmark Stadium, second only to Marv Levy in total wins. But Brady also understands that there were holes in the execution that stopped them from having a deep playoff run every season. And that’s where Allen will help him.

Since 2023, Brady developed a strong connection with Allen as his quarterback coach. Meanwhile, the latter was already a known leader and the franchise’s cornerstone since he was drafted in 2018. While Brady understands things need to change, he understands what they have already established in Buffalo is not unworkable. They only need to improve on it.

Allen was already present in head coaching interviews, as Beane wanted everything to build around him. On the field, too, the quarterback had shown what he can do, and that’s going to be Brady’s point of origin.

As his play-caller, Brady understands what Allen can do. The same is true the other way around.

“If I’m coming to you with this and I’m asking you, you have a great pulse of the locker room, ‘Like, what do you think this needs to look like?’ And I think that’s another evolution for him [Allen] as a leader, growing and getting a feel of that,” Brady added.

“But look, I’m still going to be calling plays, so it’s important. He needs to know the why and my thoughts, and I need to know how he’s feeling about things and his understanding when I’m calling, what I’m calling.”

Under McDermott, too, Allen was known to rewrite plays according to the situation at hand. Brady intends to work on that skill. That’s where Brady’s experience in New Orleans with Sean Payton will help him.

Joe Brady will follow Sean Payton’s model for Josh Allen

Sean Payton is known for his trick plays. However, what many forget is that he can succeed with them because he builds a connection with his quarterbacks. The veteran head coach, since day one of Drew Brees’ time with the Saints, did the same thing.

“It goes back to when he first sat me down before I ever signed with the Saints,” Brees recalled his time with Payton in June 2025. “He started drawing up plays on the board that was a combination of his West Coast offensive background and philosophy, and the things that I did well with the San Diego Chargers.

Top Stories

Prayers Pour In as Cowboys Legend Scott Laidlaw Passes Away at 72

Natural Disaster Strikes San Francisco Just Hours After Sam Darnold, Drake Maye & Co. Arrives for Super Bowl LX

Amid Patrick Mahomes’ Injury Struggle, Saints QB Officially Announces Signing For Chiefs

Sean McVay Shares Update on Matthew Stafford’s Retirement After Sending Message to Rams QB

NFL Launches Investigation on Giants Owner Mentioned In Epstein Files Amid Russell Wilson Links

“I remember looking at him, saying, ‘Oh, you guys run these concepts as well?’ And he said, ‘No, but I know that you ran these and you ran them very well, and we’re going to build this offense around you and your strengths.’ Right away, I realized that that was such a unique approach.”

Brees was always an exceptional quarterback. However, in five years with the San Diego Chargers, he only received a Pro Bowl nod once and couldn’t reach his potential. All that changed in 2006 as he entered New Orleans and met Payton. He lined up accolades almost every season and won his first, and only, Super Bowl ring in his third year with the Saints.

That’s Buffalo’s plan this time around.

Joe Brady had the chance to experience that connection first-hand when he became the offensive assistant for the Saints in 2017-18. The 13-time Pro Bowler led the league in passes completed in Brady’s first year and led the NFL in completion percentage for both those years.

Fast forward to now, and Brady is entering a similarly tough situation with a legendary quarterback under the center, but high expectations all around.

“I’m from the Sean Payton tree, his aggressiveness, his mindset,” Brady said of what stood out from New Orleans. “And there’s so many elements that I believe that we can continue to grow our offense with the pieces that we have, and I look forward to that.”

One thing that will certainly favor Brady is his exposure to the Bills’ offense and Allen. Another would be the latter’s ability to understand why a play is being called and use his own talent to tweak it himself. So, Joe Brady gets a few seasons. For one, Josh Allen is with him.

“I looked at him the other day and he looked at me and he promised me, and I promised him to hold each other to a standard and hold each other accountable and not get complacent [with] where we’re at,” the star quarterback said.

However, postseason frustration is already on a high in Buffalo; that’s what got them to this point with McDermott fired. That same frustration convinced owner Terry Pegula to act after what he called “the proverbial playoff wall.” Consequently, owner Terry Pegula dismissed McDermott just two days after a 33-30 overtime loss in Denver during the divisional round.

That defeat marked Buffalo’s third straight playoff loss by three points. Even more striking, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to win a playoff game in six straight seasons without reaching the Super Bowl. That frustrating history now puts even more pressure on Brady and Allen to deliver a breakthrough.

However, Brady’s one aim would be to push Allen to his best self. And that starts now.

Joe Brady sends a clear message to Josh Allen

Soon after taking over as head coach, Joe Brady sent a firm message to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The message was not about scheme or play design, but about mindset.

Brady stressed that real change must start in the locker room, especially mentally. Having already served as offensive coordinator, he knows where the scars come from, and the postseason struggles still haunt the franchise.

“That doesn’t mean changing the culture,” Brady said on The Rich Eisen Show. “It’s not to say that what we did wasn’t working.

“It’s just to say that there needs to be a different element and a different mindset within the organization so that ultimately we can get what we want and what the city of Buffalo deserves. There is going to be a change, and I think the players are going to feel it.”

From there, Brady pointed toward a new energy heading into the 2026 season. He made it clear that his methods will push players to think differently, both as individuals and as a group. It was evident this season.

During the regular season, Allen pointed out that one of the ways he improved throughout the year was the approach taken by Joe Brady. The latter had told the quarterback to self-scout. Upon watching his own films, Allen understood where he himself lacked and how he could have helped his teammates better.

Under Brady’s guidance, calling the offense, Allen delivered steady production, posting a 102.2 passer rating with 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. That consistency matters as the team looks to take the next step. With Brady calling plays, Buffalo’s rushing attack led the NFL in attempts, yards, and touchdowns. That will be a mindset that Brady will be continuing throughout the locker room as a head coach.

The offense will not be stripped down or rebuilt from scratch, even as expectations rise. The Bills will stick with the same system installed last season.

Now, as the new voice in charge, Brady and Allen face a shared challenge at Highmark Stadium: turning regular-season dominance into the playoff breakthrough the Bills Mafia has waited for.