The Buffalo Bills made a big move on Tuesday, naming Joe Brady as their next head coach.
Brady has been with the Bills since 2022, starting as a quarterback coach and steadily working his way up to offensive coordinator. Since Brady is an offensive-minded coach, he will likely keep most of the coaches on that side of the ball. However, the defense will need a new look.
Bills Could Be Looking to Add Jim Leonhard
Hours after the Bills named Brady head coach, a report began circulating that Buffalo could target Broncos defensive pass coordinator Jim Leonhard as its defensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Leonhard played as a defensive back for the Bills from 2005 to 2008. He had a 10-year career as a player before transitioning to coaching. He started coaching at Wisconsin in 2016 in various roles before moving to Illinois in 2023 as a senior football analyst. Leonhard joined the Broncos coaching staff in 2024 and played a significant role in shaping one of the top defenses in the NFL this season.
Since the Broncos are no longer in the playoffs, the Bills can hire Leonhard whenever they choose, if that’s the direction they decide to take.
Buffalo had head coach Sean McDermott for nine seasons, and he is a defensive-minded coach. Despite some ups and downs during his tenure, he remained the driving force behind the team’s defensive vision, even with a defensive coordinator by his side.
With McDermott now gone, the Bills will need to adjust to a new defensive philosophy. The offense should continue to thrive with Brady at the helm, but the defense will likely need some improvements. It’s challenging to get players to buy into a new defense when some have been in the same scheme for over five seasons.
Can Buffalo Work With Two Young Coaches
The real question now is whether the Bills can survive with a new head coach and a new defensive coordinator. Brady has never been a head coach, and if he decides to hire Leonhard, it’s worth noting that he has never been a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
Two new coaches stepping into their roles could lead to some growing pains, and the Bills may need to take a step back and wait. The Bills are one of the top teams in the AFC, with quarterback Josh Allen ready to chase a Super Bowl victory right now. That’s one reason why they parted ways with McDermott, but going young with a head coach and defensive coordinator might not lead the Bills to the Super Bowl in the first couple of seasons.
The good news is that Allen will turn 30 this year, and he should have several fantastic seasons ahead of him. However, the Bills might be wasting his prime, which could be drawing to a close in the next three to four years.
It will be interesting to see how Brady performs in his first season as head coach, and whether the Bills can finally reach the Super Bowl with Allen leading the way.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Bills Reportedly Targeting Former Player to Join Joe Brady’s Staff as Defensive Coordinator appeared first on Heavy Sports.