The Buffalo Bills didn’t overthink their next move. Just a week after firing Sean McDermott, the organization turned inward and promoted Joe Brady to head coach, a decision rooted in continuity, trust, and the belief that their offensive peak is still ahead.
For Buffalo, this hire isn’t about starting over. It’s about maximizing the prime of Josh Allen and preserving an offensive identity that has quietly become one of the league’s most efficient units.
Why the Bills chose Joe Brady
Brady’s rise in Buffalo has been steady and intentional. He joined the staff in 2022 as quarterbacks coach, earned the interim offensive coordinator role midway through the 2023 season, then fully took over the offense in 2024 and 2025. Each step came with results.
Since Brady took over play-calling duties late in 2023, the Bills have been one of the NFL’s most productive offenses:
- First in EPA per play
- Top-five in scoring
- Elite red-zone and third-down efficiency
- A league-leading rushing attack in 2025
This wasn’t just about Josh Allen improvising. Under Brady, Buffalo shifted toward better balance, clearer structure, and more efficient early-down play — all while maintaining Allen’s freedom to create.
That blend mattered in the decision. Ownership and the front office weren’t just hiring a playcaller; they were promoting someone who already commands the locker room, understands Allen, and has been deeply involved in the offense’s evolution.
Joe Brady’s version of the Bills offense leans into controlled aggression. They rely heavily on the ground game while using Josh Allen’s abilities as a secondary option, which has made them one of the best offenses in football.
That approach paid off massively for James Cook, who led the NFL in rushing in 2025 and became one of the most reliable volume backs in football. Brady consistently trusted Cook in all situations, committing to a run-first structure that kept defenses honest and opened throwing lanes for Allen.
At quarterback, Allen thrived in a different way than he did under Brian Daboll. The raw passing volume dipped, but the efficiency, rushing usage, and red-zone dominance remained elite. Allen has now posted back-to-back seasons averaging over 21 fantasy points per game despite the volume dip, largely because Brady continues to lean into what makes him special: His mobility and elite arm-talent that make him unstoppable in the red zone.
Long-Term Fantasy Football Impact
From a fantasy perspective, these are the notable impacts
- Josh Allen remains the top fantasy quarterback. His rushing role isn’t going anywhere, and Brady’s offense protects both his floor and ceiling even without 4,000-yard passing seasons.
- James Cook is the biggest winner. Coming off a 340+ touch season with nearly 2,000 total yards, his role is locked in. In a run-committed offense, Cook is going to be one of the highest players taken in 2026
- Khalil Shakir profiles as a volume-driven WR3. Brady spreads targets rather than force-feeding one alpha, keeping Shakir involved but limiting week-to-week ceiling.
- The tight end room — Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Jackson Hawes — should continue to play heavy snaps in 12- and 13-personnel packages, giving Kincaid especially strong usage stability even if his spike weeks fluctuate.
The biggest takeaway: Brady’s offense doesn’t chase fantasy volatility. It creates repeatable production, a massive advantage when projecting season-long value.
The Bottom Line
The Bills didn’t hire Joe Brady to reinvent themselves. They hired him to stay on course.
With Josh Allen entering his 30s, James Cook in his prime, and an offense that ranks among the league’s most efficient units, Buffalo is betting that continuity is the path to a Super Bowl with a different voice at the helm. From a fantasy football lens, that same continuity makes the Bills one of the safest and most predictable offenses to invest in heading into next season.
