The Buffalo Bills didn’t have to look too far to find their new coach — and their fans aren’t happy about it.
On Tuesday, the team announced that it has agreed to terms with offensive coordinator Joe Brady to became their new head coach.
The Bills made the announcement on X, sharing that the two sides have agreed on a five-year deal for Brady to take over the role after Sean McDermott was fired last week following the team’s heartbreaking playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.
The 36-year-old Brady had been the team’s offensive coordinator since 2023, when he took over the role after the midseason firing of Ken Dorsey.
The Bills interviewed several other high-profile candidates for the job, including former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, ex-Giants coach Brian Daboll and Philip Rivers, who came out of retirement after years this past season to play for the Indianapolis Colts.
There even was a petition signed by more than 80,000 people calling for McDermott to be rehired by the team.
Since their interviews in Buffalo, McDaniel has accepted a lesser role as offensive coordinator with the Chargers while Rivers withdrew his name.
But while the hiring of a new sideline boss usually brings optimism, many supporters slammed the team on social media for what they consider an uninspired hiring.
What is Bills Mafia saying?
“ALL OF THIS TO HIRE JOE BRADY?” one user questioned the team on X. “Hey Buffalo Bills, hope you guys know how much you suck. Unserious organization.”
“Promoting Brandon Beane just for him to hire Joe Brady as head coach shows how unserious the Bills are about winning,” another posted.
“Hope I’m wrong but hiring from within after telling us you’ve reached a playoff wall is bold,” a third user wrote, referring to comments last week’s press conference with team owner Terry Pegula.
Trend of promoting from within
Another user highlighted the trend of the Bills hiring from within over recent years, despite failing to reach the Super Bowl.
Another joked about McDermott followed along the same lines, joking that McDermott would make a great defensive coordinator for the team.
“If I’m Joe Brady, I am absolutely trying to hire Sean McDermott as my DC. It’s a good scheme fit with the players they have,” Gregg Rosenthal of the NFL Daily Podcast joked.
Is Brady a good hire?
Not all the voices online were critical of the Brady hiring.
Many were quick to point out that he has a well-established relationship with MVP quarterback Josh Allen and that the Bills have ranked near the top of the league in offence over Brady’s tenure as the team’s OC.
This past season, the Bills ranked fourth in scoring and total yardage while running back James Cooks led the league in rushing yards.