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With the Cardinals trending in the wrong direction, Michael Bidwill ultimately chose to move on from head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Another day, another head coaching interview for the Arizona Cardinals.
After losing out on now-Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh on January 19, the Cardinals have now brought in Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady for an interview on the 20th, per Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady is interviewing for the Arizona Cardinals head coach position, source tells @NFLonCBS. Brady also has a second interview set up with the Ravens and is a presumed candidate in Buffalo.
With Brady’s future uncertain in Buffalo after the firing of head coach Sean McDermott, this could be a logical move.
Six head coaching vacancies remain in the Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Browns, Bills and Raiders.
While there are several good fits still available for Arizona, Brady could end up being one of the better options.
What Would Joe Brady Bring to the Arizona Cardinals?
Brady, 36, gained attention as LSU’s passing game coordinator during the school’s 2019 championship season, led by now-Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. The Bengals quarterback gives a lot of credit to Brady for his historic season.
Matt Rhule would proceed to bring Brady to his staff on the Carolina Panthers as offensive coordinator for the 2020 season. While the results were mediocre to say the least, Brady didn’t exactly have much to work with.
He was fired from the Carolina staff after the 2021 season. Soon after, he was brought on board to the Buffalo coaching staff. Making his way back to the offensive playcaller during the 2023 season, he flourished.
Since 2023, the Bills’ offense has become incredibly successful, with quarterback Josh Allen winning the MVP in 2024.
But what has been even more successful is the balance of the offense since Brady took over play-calling duties.
Since the emergence of runningback James Cook, the run game for Buffalo became way more involved, leading to Allen’s increased efficiency. During the 2025 season, Cook led the NFL in rushing yards.
So not only has Brady proven to be a quarterback guru, but he has also led a balanced attack. This is something the Cardinals could very much use in their offensive approach.
Where is the Fit?
The Cardinals will need a new quarterback in 2026. With a new coach incoming and Kyler Murray on his way out of Arizona, this should happen.
However, with no known solution at the position, the Cardinals are not exactly the most attractive job opening.
Brady is reportedly a candidate to succeed McDermott in Buffalo, which would be a great fit, but a circular move at that. He also has a second interview set up with the Ravens.
While Baltimore and Buffalo are the best openings available due to having experienced quarterbacks at the helm, could Brady come to Arizona still?
The Cardinals have an intriguing rushing attack led by veteran James Conner and young wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. But is the quarterback situation enough to scare off any young head coach?
With first-time head coaches not exactly being given a good chance to succeed historically in Arizona, there should be hesitation from prospective head coaches to accept the position.
The opportunity to mold a young quarterback and make a new playbook around his strengths is an enticing one. But the Cardinals don’t have one at the moment.
With a few teams interested in Brady, the repeated question this offseason will not be if the coach is a good fit for the Cardinals, but if Arizona is a good fit for them.
Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer
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