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Buffalo Bills coach Joe Brady began filling out his staff by turning to a former colleague in agreeing to hire Pete Carmichael as offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of discussions told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Carmichael has yet to sign his contract. The NFL Network was first to report the agreement.
Carmichael, 54, brings extensive NFL experience to Buffalo’s coaching staff as Brady transitions into his new role as head coach. The veteran coordinator has been a long-time assistant under Sean Payton, most recently serving as the Denver Broncos senior offensive assistant for the past two seasons.
The connection between Brady and Carmichael dates back to their time together in New Orleans. Carmichael was serving as the Saints offensive coordinator when Brady worked as an offensive assistant during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. This established relationship could prove valuable as the young head coach builds his program in Buffalo.
Carmichael’s NFL coaching career spans 26 seasons, beginning in 2000 as tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns. His most significant tenure came with the New Orleans Saints, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2023, helping guide the team through one of its most successful periods in franchise history.
The hiring comes amid significant coaching movement across the league. Carmichael departs Denver during a staff reorganization by Sean Payton, who recently fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and wide receivers coach Keary Colbert following the Broncos’ disappointing 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC championship game last Sunday.
For Brady, at just 36 years old and making his head-coaching debut, Carmichael’s wealth of experience represents a strategic addition. Brady spent the past two-plus seasons as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator before his promotion this week to replace Sean McDermott, who was fired after nine seasons at the helm despite leading the Bills to multiple playoff appearances.
Brady has previously acknowledged Carmichael’s influence, noting that he earned “a doctorate” in offensive strategy during his time in New Orleans. The Saints’ offensive system under Payton and Carmichael was consistently among the league’s most productive, particularly during the Drew Brees era.
Despite bringing in Carmichael as coordinator, Brady has already made it clear that he intends to continue calling plays for Buffalo’s offense, which features star quarterback Josh Allen. This arrangement suggests Carmichael will serve more as a strategic advisor and game-planning specialist, leveraging his experience to complement Brady’s play-calling.
The Bills’ coaching staff remains a work in progress. Brady still faces significant decisions in filling out his team, particularly at defensive coordinator after Bobby Babich departed to take the same position with the Green Bay Packers. Buffalo’s special teams coordinator position also remains vacant following Chris Tabor’s decision to join the Miami Dolphins.
These coaching moves come during a period of transition for the Bills, who have been perennial contenders in the AFC but have struggled to break through to the Super Bowl despite regular season success. The organization will be looking to Brady and his newly forming staff to capitalize on their championship window while Allen remains in his prime.
The timing of these changes aligns with the broader coaching carousel across the NFL, as teams eliminated from playoff contention or postseason play work to solidify their staffs before the upcoming NFL Combine and draft preparation season begins in earnest.
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5 Comments
Bringing in Carmichael as OC is a savvy move by the Bills. His extensive NFL experience and prior relationship with Brady should create some valuable synergy. Will be interesting to see how their approaches mesh and what kind of offense they construct.
Carmichael is a well-regarded offensive mind, so this seems like a smart hire by the Bills. His familiarity with Brady should help with a smooth transition. It will be interesting to see how their collaboration shapes the Bills’ offensive strategy.
Interesting move by the Bills to bring in Carmichael as OC. His extensive NFL experience and prior work with Brady could be a big boost for Buffalo’s offense. Curious to see how they mesh and what kind of schemes they implement.
This seems like a smart hire by the Bills. Carmichael’s experience as an NFL OC and his prior work with Brady should provide a solid foundation as they look to take the offense to the next level. Curious to see what kind of system they implement.
The Bills are really building an impressive coaching staff. Carmichael’s addition as OC is a solid move that could pay dividends, especially with his history working alongside Brady. Their partnership bears watching in the coming season.