Brandon Beane is not shying away from the backlash surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ decision to promote Joe Brady from offensive coordinator to head coach.
With a fan poll showing minimal initial approval for the move and criticism mounting after Sean McDermott’s firing, the longtime general manager addressed the reaction bluntly. Beane made it clear he is prepared to own the consequences of the hire and refused to frame the decision as a response to outside noise.
Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane Defends Joe Brady Hire
Beane acknowledged that many Bills supporters were hoping for a different direction after McDermott’s nine-year tenure, including external candidates and a potential reunion with former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
Instead, the organization stayed internal and elevated Brady, who took over play-calling duties during the 2023 season and coordinated an offense that finished fourth in both points and yardage in 2025. The move drew skepticism from portions of the fan base, a reaction Beane said he anticipated but is unwilling to let dictate football decisions.
“F**k the outside,” the Bills general manager told Tyler Dunne of Go Long when discussing public perception of the hire. “It’s about the right selection for this team. And if we win, they’ll love it. It’s the same thing I said when I took Josh Allen. If I’m wrong, the moving company will be at my house.
“So, I understand. And I’m not going to have regret of choosing someone to appease the outside if I thought it should have been something different. If I’m wrong, I’ll f**king take my job and f**king go home.”
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Dunne noted that Beane’s remarks came in the context of a poll of Buffalo fans that showed just 8% approved of the Brady hire at the time. Beane, however, emphasized that his priority is to align with his own evaluation and the internal view of what gives the franchise the best chance to win long term.
He pointed to Brady’s existing relationship with Josh Allen and continuity on offense as key reasons he was unwilling to risk losing him to another team.
“I don’t want to be wrong — see him go somewhere else — when my gut told me it was Joe Brady,” Beane said. “I’m never going to do that. I would love for everyone to cheer every move, but it’s not about winning the press conference. It’s about winning games over there.”
That stance underscores the pressure attached to Brady’s promotion. The Bills have one of the most talented rosters among the 10 franchises that made head-coaching changes this offseason, and Brady inherits a team that reached the playoffs in six straight seasons under McDermott but never broke through to win a Super Bowl.
Expectations within the building remain “Super Bowl or bust,” with Allen entrenched as one of the league’s top quarterbacks and the organization accustomed to double-digit win seasons.
Brady’s history with Buffalo provides the backdrop to Beane’s confidence. He joined the staff in 2022, was elevated to interim offensive coordinator during the 2023 campaign, and was later promoted after overseeing a top-tier attack in 2025.
The decision to hand him the full-time head-coaching role signals the Bills’ belief that continuity and internal promotion can push them over the top, even as a vocal segment of the fan base preferred a fresh voice from outside the building.