The Buffalo Bills have made their first major coaching hire under new head coach Joe Brady, bringing in veteran offensive mind Pete Carmichael as the team's offensive coordinator. The Buffalo Bills are hiring Pete Carmichael to be their offensive coordinator, a source confirmed to ESPN. Carmichael is the first coordinator hired for coach Joe Brady's staff.
Reuniting the Sean Payton Coaching Tree
The hire reunites two coaches who share a common background in the New Orleans Saints organization. Carmichael has a connection with new Bills head coach Joe Brady from their days together with the New Orleans Saints. Brady was with New Orleans in 2017 and 2018, serving as an offensive assistant when Carmichael was the team's offensive coordinator. This familiarity should help create immediate chemistry as Brady builds his first staff as an NFL head coach.
Brady will call plays for the offense, but Carmichael, who is currently a Denver Broncos senior offensive assistant, brings coordinating experience from 15 years with the Saints. The decision to have Brady retain play-calling duties while leveraging Carmichael's extensive experience represents a strategic approach to offensive management.
Pete Carmichael's Extensive NFL Resume
Carmichael brings a wealth of experience to Buffalo after spending nearly two decades with the Saints organization. Carmichael, 54, was with the Saints from 2006-2023, spending the vast majority of that time as the club's offensive coordinator under Payton. During his tenure in New Orleans, he worked under Sean Payton for 16 of those years in New Orleans, helping the Saints to nine playoff appearances, seven division titles, and a Super Bowl XLIV championship.
After his time with the Saints concluded, Carmichael spent the last two seasons as a senior offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos. Working alongside his former boss Sean Payton once again, he worked alongside Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and coach Sean Payton to help build the NFL's No. 10 offense in 2025.
What Carmichael Brings to Buffalo
The addition of Carmichael provides the Bills with a coordinator who has extensive experience game-planning and developing offensive systems at the highest level. While Brady will handle play-calling responsibilities, Carmichael's role will be crucial in the week-to-week preparation and offensive development. His experience working with multiple quarterbacks throughout his career, including during the Saints' championship run, should prove valuable as the Bills look to maximize quarterback Josh Allen's considerable talents.
When it comes to quarterback Josh Allen, Brady said that he and Allen are in "lockstep" in what they are looking for in hiring an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and that they have been in communication on it. This collaborative approach suggests that Allen's input was considered in bringing Carmichael aboard, which could help ensure alignment between the quarterback and the new offensive staff.
Building a Championship Staff
The Carmichael hiring represents the first major step in Brady's effort to assemble a coaching staff capable of pushing the Bills to championship contention. He also is tasked with hiring a new defensive and special teams coordinator. With the offensive coordinator position now filled, attention will turn to completing the rest of the staff.
The Bills are coming off a season that ended in disappointment with a divisional playoff loss, leading to the dismissal of former head coach Sean McDermott and the promotion of Brady. The franchise is hoping that Brady's offensive expertise, combined with Carmichael's veteran presence and experience, can help unlock the team's full potential and finally break through to a Super Bowl appearance.
Carmichael's hiring also represents a loss for the Denver Broncos, who saw their offense improve significantly during his two-year stint as a senior offensive assistant. However, for Buffalo, the addition of a coach with Carmichael's pedigree and championship experience represents a significant upgrade in organizational knowledge and offensive philosophy.
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