The Detroit Lions’ search for their next offensive coordinator may have just taken an intriguing turn.
With reports surfacing that the Buffalo Bills have moved on from head coach Sean McDermott, attention is now shifting to what that means for the rest of Buffalo’s staff, especially offensive coordinator Joe Brady. And for a Lions team looking to keep its high-powered offense humming into 2026, Brady suddenly looks like a name worth circling in red ink.
Brady’s rise in Buffalo has been fast and impressive. He originally joined the Bills on February 4, 2022, as their quarterbacks coach, tasked with helping Josh Allen continue his development into one of the league’s elite passers. Midway through the 2023 season, after Buffalo stumbled to a 5–5 start, the organization fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and elevated Brady to interim OC on November 14, 2023.
That move changed everything.
Under Brady, the Bills’ offense underwent a noticeable philosophical shift. Instead of leaning almost exclusively on Allen’s arm and the downfield connection with Stefon Diggs, Brady implemented a more balanced, adaptable approach. The run game became a true weapon, with James Cook and Ty Johnson playing larger roles, while Allen was encouraged to use his legs more strategically. The result? Buffalo caught fire down the stretch, winning six of its final seven games to finish 11–6 and capture a fourth straight AFC East title.
The success earned Brady the full-time offensive coordinator job following the season, and he took things to another level in 2024. Brady rolled out what he called the “Everybody Eats” philosophy, spreading the ball around and making the offense far less predictable. A league-record 13 different offensive players scored receiving touchdowns, Buffalo went 13–4, and the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game. Brady’s work even earned him a finalist spot for the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Now, with McDermott out, Brady’s future in Buffalo could be uncertain, and that’s where Detroit comes in.
The Lions are searching for an offensive coordinator who can maximize Jared Goff, continue developing weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, and keep the offense innovative and adaptable. Brady’s recent track record, quarterback development, creative balance, and an unselfish, player-friendly scheme check a lot of boxes.
Nothing is official yet, but if Brady becomes available, it would make all the sense in the world for Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell to pick up the phone. A coach who helped engineer one of the NFL’s most versatile and explosive offenses could suddenly be on the market, and the Lions might be in prime position to make a move.
