Getty Bills interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady at Highmark Stadium on November 19, 2023.
Joe Brady could be looking at his second big job promotion in a matter of months.
The Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator, who took over his current job in November after the team fired Ken Dorsey, could be jumping into the competition for a high-profile coaching job. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that the Atlanta Falcons requested permission to interview Brady for their head-coaching vacancy.
The Falcons have already brought in a number of big names, holding interviews with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh. Though Brady may seem a long shot for the job compared to the others, he could have an inside track given his history with the franchise.
Joe Brady Back for Another Interview in Atlanta
As NBC Sports reported, Brady made a name for himself as the passing game coordinator for LSU in 2019, when the team won a national championship behind Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. Brady served as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and joined the Bills as quarterbacks coach in 2022, eventually moving to offensive coordinator after Dorsey was fired.
Falcons request interview with Bills interim OC Joe Brady, per report
This is not the first time that the Falcons have taken a look at Brady for a head coaching vacancy, as Jones noted that Atlanta also interviewed Brady in 2021 before ultimately settling on Arthur Smith. If he wants to land the job this time, Brady will need to stand out from a talented group of coaches that includes Belichick.
“The Falcons have completed interviews with Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver and 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks,” the NBC Sports report noted.
Joe Brady Preparing for Playoff Rematch
While it was not yet clear when or if Brady would interview for Atlanta’s job opening, he will have a busy week as the Bills prepare for their third playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs in the last four seasons.
The Bills have seen a dramatic turnaround since Dorsey’s firing. After falling to 6-6 with an overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills have reeled off six straight wins to reach the divisional round for the fourth straight season.
Speaking to reporters on January 18, Brady shared some big praise for quarterback Josh Allen and his ability to make something out of nothing. Allen accounted for all four of the team’s touchdowns in their 31-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, including a 52-yard rushing touchdown that set a franchise record for longest postseason touchdown run.
“That’s who he is,” Brady said. “He’s a human eraser. He makes bad plays and bad play calls, he makes them work… All the time I’m telling him, ‘Hey look, man. There’s three guys around you. It’s the NFL. Just go down, you’re not going to able to do it.’ Well, he proved me wrong.”
“So that’s going to set me back a bit. He’s such a dynamic football player that I think when you hold Josh Allen back, you’re probably doing him a disservice.”