Bills head coach Sean McDermott has worked with four different offensive coordinators since taking the reins in 2017. He’s not ready to move on to a fifth. McDermott said Monday that Joe Brady will remain the team’s offensive coordinator, per Andrew Siciliano.
Questions about Brady’s status came after one of McDermott’s former O-coordinators, Brian Daboll, lost his head coaching job with the Giants on Monday. That could make him a fit to return to Buffalo’s offensive staff in some capacity, but McDermott shot down the possibility.
“That’s not under any kind of consideration,” McDermott said when asked about a potential reunion with Daboll.
Daboll, who attended high school outside of Buffalo and went to college in nearby Rochester, was the Bills’ O-coordinator from 2018-21. He’s often credited with aiding in the development of quarterback Josh Allen, a high-risk first-round pick in 2018 who has evolved into an elite signal-caller.
The Allen era got off to a slow start, but the Bills’ Daboll-coached offense finished top five in both points and yards in 2020 and ’21. Daboll then left for the Giants, with whom he went 20-40-1 over three-plus seasons.
With Daboll on his way to the Giants, the Bills promoted passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey as his replacement. They rolled out a stellar offense again in Year 1 under Dorsey, but they fired him in November 2023. Although the Bills ranked a respectable eighth in points and yards at the time, they were coming off two straight losses and sporting a mediocre 5-5 record. In McDermott’s estimation, that was enough to ax Dorsey.
The Bills handed the offensive keys to Brady, then their QBs coach, on an interim basis. The move sparked a 6-1 finish and a third straight AFC East title, and the offense improved to fourth in yards and sixth in points. Brady earned a full-time promotion as a result. While the Bills fell to 10th in yards last year, the first season of the post-Stefon Diggs era, they scored the second-most points in the league. Allen took home MVP honors.
Brady’s performance in 2024 was enough for him to earn head coaching consideration last winter. New Orleans was among the interested teams, but with the Saints having the last opening remaining in late January, Brady bowed out of the race and stayed in Buffalo.
The 36-year-old Brady is again in control of an offense that has been a resounding statistical success this season. The Bills sit second in the league in yards and sixth in points, though inquiries about his job security come on the heels of a brutal loss to the Dolphins in Week 10.
The Bills dropped to 6-3 in a 30-13 romp in Miami on Sunday. A Dolphins defense depleted by injuries and the trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles held the Bills scoreless over the first three quarters of the game. The Bills committed three costly turnovers on the Dolphins’ side of the field, including an end zone interception by Allen.
It was apparent yet again that the Bills are lacking at wide receiver. General manager Brandon Beane didn’t make a trade to address the issue before the Nov. 4 deadline, but he reportedly attempted to acquire Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle. He stayed put and wound up burning the Bills for five catches, 84 yards, and a touchdown on Sunday.
After a dismal all-around showing in Miami, the Bills will face a stiffer test at home against the NFC South-leading Buccaneers in Week 11. Brady will remain in charge of the offense as the Bills aim for a bounce-back effort.
Let’s hope the fan outrage provides a wakeup call for Brady this week. If not, he can expect the Daboll chants to begin on Sunday.
The bills turned the ball over 3x and gave up 200 yards on the ground…..Why is that on the OC?
Right? Crazy how fast fans turn on coaches/coordinators
Because the OC has not created schemes to free any of his recievers. Each turnover on Sunday was from Josh or Cook trying to put on their Superman capes to win with that idiotic game plan. 4th and 1 should never be a trick play.
Ok, absolutely fair- I watch a lot of bills games, not all, didn’t see this one. I’ve thought for a long time they rely too heavy on the superman style from allen.
With that – they’re 7th in yards and 5th in points. They had a bad game, that’s football
They’ve had three idiot games that should have been easy wins this year. One or even two would be forgivable.
Even if the OC changes, I don’t think you can get Allen to play different.
What quality receivers does he have to scheme with? They’ve neglected the position.
Same quality receivers they had last year, and did really well with.
Just because you can get by with mediocre to bad talent doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem. The Eagles and McNabb got far in the playoffs with the likes of James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, and Greg Lewis. If you actually want to win anything meaningful you need weapons.
It’s not on the OC, he’s done a fine job. Josh has no one to throw the ball to, not a one of them can separate from coverage. He has all day to throw but no one is creating space. The bigger problem is the defense anyway.
No reason for Bills fans to panic. Two seasons ago they were 5-4 at this point. When that cold December weather blows into Buffalo this team heats up while visiting opponents shiver and freeze up.
DaBoll is never coming back here. He didn’t leave on good terms. Remember the game when he barely shook McDermott hand? Not a word between them.
Everyone forgets Dabol and McD didn’t get along.
Pittsburgh needs Daboll, and like right now. A Tomlin/Daboll pairing would be deadly.
Idk. Dabolls play calling is quite baffling. He rode josh allens success and that’s it. His good year in NY was lifted by a defense that lead the NFL in turnovers and a great run game. His offense was bad in Cleveland, his offense was bad in miami. I don’t get it. It’s a scared style of play with dinks, dunks, and third down calls short of the sticks.
My bet is he’d be better than Arthur Smith.