The Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott less than 48 hours after the Denver Broncos ended their season in overtime, making the Bills job the most attractive opening in this historic coaching carousel. GM Brandon Beane will lead the search for the franchise’s next head coach with one mandate: deliver Josh Allen a Super Bowl before his window closes.
McDermott went 98-50 in nine seasons and brought Buffalo eight playoff appearances, but none ended with a trip to the Super Bowl. Allen, the reigning MVP, turns 30 in May and owns the most playoff wins (eight) and starts (15) by any quarterback without a Super Bowl appearance in the Super Bowl era. The urgency is real.
Who Should the Bills Target As Their Next Head Coach?
Buffalo enters this search with an elite franchise quarterback and a new stadium opening in 2026.
The Bills led the NFL with 2,714 rushing yards this season and had the third-best offense in the league, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric. Allen’s supporting cast at receiver was underwhelming and included veteran castoffs like Brandin Cooks, Mecole Hardman, and Curtis Samuel.
The next coach will face immediate pressure to win and turn this team into a Super Bowl contender. That should inform which candidates make the most sense.
1. Joe Brady, Bills Offensive Coordinator
The internal candidate makes the most sense… if Buffalo doesn’t lose him. Joe Brady interviewed with the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Bills’ season ended. He’s 36 years old, runs a motion-heavy offense that blends spread concepts with 12-personnel packages, and most importantly, has Allen’s full trust.
“He’s one of the most positive guys in the building,” Allen said before the playoffs. “He’s as real as they come.”
Brady took over as play-caller midway through 2023 after Ken Dorsey was fired and never looked back. Buffalo finished sixth in points scored that year, then posted second- and fourth-place finishes the last two seasons. He helped transform James Cook into the NFL’s leading rusher (1,621 yards) and adjusted his scheme around a diminished receiving corps without complaint. Even in the loss to Denver, Brady was praised for a terrific gameplan.
If the Bills don’t make Brady their head coach, it’s very possible he lands elsewhere. The Dolphins, his hometown team, already completed an interview. If the Bills want continuity, they need to move fast.
2. Klint Kubiak, Seahawks Offensive Coordinator
Klint Kubiak can’t interview in person until Seattle’s playoff run ends, and the Seahawks host the Rams in the NFC Championship on Sunday. His stock has never been higher. Seattle finished 14-3 as the NFC’s top seed, ranked third in points per game (28.4), and Kubiak unlocked a career year from Sam Darnold while turning Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the league’s leading receiver (1,793 yards).
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At 38, Kubiak has spent his entire life around the NFL. His father Gary was the architect of the outside zone scheme that Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay popularized. Klint brings that same system with wrinkles of his own, emphasizing play-action and a balanced run-pass mix. Seattle ran the ball 507 times this season, the same as Baltimore.
“Guys love him,” Cooper Kupp said. “You want to play for guys like Klint.”
The fit with Allen is intriguing. Buffalo already led the league in rushing yards this season, and Kubiak’s scheme would complement the run game while simplifying Allen’s reads in the passing attack.
3. Brian Flores, Vikings Defensive Coordinator
Brian Flores has transformed Minnesota’s defense over three seasons by running the NFL’s most aggressive blitz scheme (46.9% blitz rate since 2023). His defenses are creative, multiple, and relentless. Minnesota had the fourth-best defense in the NFL with an 88.5 grade in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric.
He interviewed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ravens for their head coaching openings and even met with the Washington Commanders about their defensive coordinator job. Flores wants back in, and his track record suggests he deserves the chance despite a rocky tenure in Miami (24-25 record from 2019-2021).
The question is fit. Flores would represent a clean break philosophically from McDermott’s defensive infrastructure, but the Bills’ defensive personnel remains strong. He’d inherit a unit that can still compete, not one that needs rebuilding.
4. Mike McDaniel, Former Dolphins Head Coach
Mike McDaniel was fired by Miami on Jan. 8 after four seasons and a 35-33 record. He made the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 before back-to-back losing seasons ended his tenure. At 42, he remains one of the most creative offensive minds in football, a disciple of the Shanahan/McVay tree who transformed Tua Tagovailoa into a Pro Bowl quarterback (at one point), and built one of the league’s most explosive attacks.
Since his firing, McDaniel has interviewed with the Raiders, Ravens, Browns, Titans, and Falcons. He’s also been linked to offensive coordinator openings in Detroit and Tampa Bay. The interest is real.
The appeal for Buffalo is scheme-based. McDaniel’s motion-heavy, misdirection offense would give Allen new tools while leveraging Buffalo’s dominant run game. Cook’s skill set fits perfectly in McDaniel’s outside zone system.
The concern is whether McDaniel’s act wore thin in Miami for reasons beyond roster limitations. His final two seasons saw a decline that can’t be blamed entirely on injuries, and Tagovailoa was benched late in the year. Buffalo would be betting that the right quarterback elevates McDaniel back to his 2022-2023 form.
5. Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin stepped down from the Steelers on Jan. 13 after 19 years, and reports indicate he doesn’t plan to coach in 2026. But the Bills should at least make the call.
Pittsburgh still holds Tomlin’s contractual rights through 2027, meaning Buffalo would have to trade for him. That’s a significant hurdle, but the prize might be worth it. Tomlin never had a losing season in 19 years and owns a Super Bowl ring. His recent playoff struggles in Pittsburgh stemmed largely from a revolving door at quarterback, not schematic failures.
The chance to coach Allen doesn’t come along every day, so perhaps Tomlin would reconsider his 2026 plans. Tomlin spent years trying to win with Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and past-their-prime options like Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Pairing him with a top-three quarterback in his prime might be enough to pull him back from his planned sabbatical. The Bills should find out.
6. Brian Daboll, Former Giants Head Coach
The reunion narrative writes itself, and that’s part of the problem. Brian Daboll coordinated Buffalo’s offense from 2018-2021 and helped develop Allen from raw prospect to MVP candidate. He interviewed with the Tennessee Titans for their head coaching vacancy and is expected to interview with the Philadelphia Eagles for their offensive coordinator opening.
But Daboll’s tenure in New York was a disaster. He went 20-40-1 in three-plus seasons with the Giants, was fired in November after a 2-8 start, and his teams developed a habit of blowing double-digit leads. Four losses this season came after New York held leads of 10 or more points.
The Bills would essentially be asking: Was New York the problem, or was Daboll? His relationship with Allen matters, but the Giants experiment should give Buffalo pause. Daboll’s offensive system worked with Allen; his head coaching acumen remains unproven.
What Buffalo Should Prioritize
The Bills’ next coach must accomplish two things: preserve what works and fix what doesn’t. Buffalo’s run game is elite. Allen remains a top-three quarterback. The defense, while imperfect, can still stop opponents.
The failures have been situational. McDermott went 0-3 in postseason overtimes. His decision to push the ball downfield before halftime Saturday, rather than kneel out the clock, directly contributed to the loss. The Bills have the talent to win. They need a coach who won’t sabotage them.
Brady makes the most sense because he already knows the building, the quarterback, and the system. If he leaves, Kubiak offers a similar offensive philosophy with fresh ideas. Flores brings defensive credibility. McDaniel is a wild card with upside. Daboll represents a familiar name whose recent track record inspires more concern than confidence. And Tomlin? If Buffalo can pry him away from Pittsburgh, the conversation changes entirely.
Brandon Beane has one chance to get this right. Allen’s prime won’t last forever.
