With the firing of former head coach Sean McDermott and the hiring of offensive coordinator Joe Brady to replace him, it’s safe to assume there’s going to be quite a bit of change for the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
After an extensive interview process that included meetings with former New York Giants head coach and newly hired Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb—among others—the Bills landed on promoting Brady as the best choice for the franchise.
In hiring in-house, the Bills presumably liked the idea of keeping the continuity in place for star quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook, and the rest of Buffalo’s offense.
And while keeping most of the coaching staff intact was likely part of the plan, Brady and the Bills will have a few holes on the assistant coaching staff to fill.
Bills Lose Second Coach to Dolphins
GettyFormer Buffalo Bills CBs coach Jahmile Addae
The Bills had already lost one assistant coach bolt to the division rival Miami Dolphins — special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
Then on Thursday, it was revealed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the Dolphins had poached a second Bills coach.
“Sources: The Miami Dolphins are set to hire Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae in the same role,” Thamel wrote on X. “He’s a veteran secondary coach who spent time in college coaching defensive backs at Miami, Georgia, West Virginia, Minnesota and Arizona. He was WVU’s CO-DC in 2020.”
Addae will replace Mathieu Aruajo, who left one day prior to take the same job with the Jaguars.
Many consider Addae to be one of the top secondary coaches in the NFL.
This season, he helped lead the No. 1-ranked pass defense in the NFL (156.9 yards allowed per game). Buffalo also allowed the fourth-fewest yards per pass attempt (6.2), the fourth-lowest completion percentage (59.7), the sixth-fewest touchdown passes (19), and the seventh-worst passer rating against (79.8).
Addae’s Departure Draws Strong Reaction
Addae’s departure to jump ship, to a division rival nonetheless, turned quite a few heads.
Several fans and Bills reporters had some pretty animated reactions on social media to the move.
“That’s a big loss for the Bills. Addae was very good,” The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia said. “Looking more and more like close to a complete overhaul to the Bills’ defensive staff.”
“Tough loss for the Bills’ coaching staff,” Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News stated. “Addae did great work during his two seasons as McDermott’s cornerbacks coach.”
“Addae is a helluva coach, another change ahead for the bills staff,” Jenna Cottrell of 13WHAM wrote.
“Damn, he’s a coach you didn’t want to lose,” one fan added.
“Yo why the [expletive] are the dolphins stealing all of our coaches,” another fan scoffed.
Miami’s secondary was below-average last season. The Dolphins ranked 17th in passing yards per game (216.4), 21st in touchdowns allowed (29), 29th in passer rating against (1053), and dead last in completion percentage (72%).
Dolphins Poach Another Coach From Bills Staff After Joe Brady News