Since Joe Brady was named the Buffalo Bills’ 21st head coach, a new sense of energy has been felt throughout One Bills Drive. Brady, known for his energetic approach, said, “It’s a new energy that I’ve got to drive every single day. One thing that the guys know about me, it might be from espresso, it might be from Gatorade Fast Twitches, I’m going to bring the energy every single day. I believe people are going to feed off that.”
Brady emphasized authenticity as he starts this new chapter with the team. “I have to be me,” he said. “I think the great coaches that I’ve been around have been comfortable in who they are … I do curse, I stutter … I’m going to be my personality. I think the great coaches I’ve been around are comfortable in who they are.”
For Brady, culture is shaped by those inside the building and their actions. He explained, “Culture is a verb to me. It’s the people that we have in this building and what they do, the personalities that our guys have, that’s our culture. Josh Allen has such a great pulse of what we have, and I think our guys feed off him … I want our guys to be the best version of themselves. I want them to be to their personality.
“I say all the time, ‘Be you with us.’ If you’re loud, be loud. If you’re Dion Dawkins and you want to walk around with your shirt, do that.”
This philosophy is not new for Brady; he used it during his time as offensive coordinator in Buffalo. Under his leadership since 2024, Buffalo’s offense ranked near the top of several league categories: second-most points per game (29.6), third in yards per game (367.7) and rushing yards per game (145.4), tenth in passing yards per game (222.3), third in plays over 20 yards (146), fourth in third down conversion rate (44.4 percent), and first in red zone efficiency (68.9 percent).
Quarterback Josh Allen credited Brady’s vision for helping achieve these results: “I do believe in what he talked about in his meetings, what he’s talked about really the last few years that he’s been in the quarterback room of just the mindset that he has, the togetherness, being you with us,” Allen said. “I can go on and on about how good of a coach I think Joe is, but he’s also a great human being.”
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir described how Brady’s support impacted his career: “Brady to me is the man who helped my career take off,” Shakir said. He recalled his first 100-yard game under Brady’s play calling against the Jets during Week 11 of 2023: three catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Shakir added: “I think he just instilled a whole bunch of confidence within me to go out there and make these plays and break tackles and do all these crazy things…just telling me every single week to just be at my best made a difference.” As a result of this trust from his coach, Shakir led Buffalo in receiving yards for both 2024 (821) and 2025 (719).
Brady says love is central to his coaching style—a lesson learned after meeting his wife changed how he views leadership: “I met my wife. That’s honestly a huge element,” Brady said regarding why showing love matters now more than before when coaching was more focused on technical aspects.
He continued: “When I was in Carolina…I didn’t do a great job of really getting to know my guys…if I get the opportunity again…I was going to make it up [to] the guys.”
Since joining Buffalo as an assistant coach in 2022—and now as head coach—Brady has prioritized player relationships across both offense and defense: “When I took the job…I started calling defensive guys…because I need them to know that I’m not [just] offensive coordinator anymore…but every day I’m spending time making sure these guys are getting to know me…”
Khalil Shakir noted Brady’s open-door policy helps players feel heard: “It’s one thing for a coach to say their door is open but for players…to actually go up there…and talk…speaks volumes…You can just tell he’s a guy that wants what’s best for everybody…When a coach cares about your family too…it makes you want to grind that much harder…”
Brady believes empowering players builds trust within teams: “I think it’s so important to empower them…and give them ownership…I believe if someone tells me I’m going make this work—they’re going make it work…That empowerment…it builds leaders…it builds trust…”
Offensive lineman Alec Anderson described how players respond positively: “We’re getting [someone] who’s going connect…the offensive energy [with] defensive energy…and mesh that very well…(He’ll) have team amped up…and ready…”
New offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael recognized early signs of Brady’s passion while working together previously: “I just love his passion,” Carmichael said.“He loves game; loves being around it…Early on when we started working together—you could tell right away there’s something special about this guy.”
Josh Allen also praised Brady’s leadership qualities after winning an MVP award under him during 2024—the same season Buffalo became first NFL team ever with at least thirty rushing touchdowns plus thirty passing touchdowns.
Allen concluded by expressing optimism for future goals under Brady’s guidance:“I looked at him other day—and he promised me—and I promised him—to hold each other accountable…not get complacent…continuing chase…to bring Lombardi Trophy here Western New York.”
