Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Buffalo Bills fans are expressing mixed reactions to Joe Brady’s promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach.

John Hoesterman of Lewiston was one of four die-hard Bills fans 13WHAM spoke with Tuesday at the Shamrock Inn on Jefferson Road in Henrietta. He shared his initial concern upon hearing the news.

“I got a text that we have a coach named Brady, and my first fear was that it was Tom Brady,” Hoesterman said. “But then we found out about it, I was disappointed. I thought there were better candidates out there.”

The group, which included Steve Filipowicz of Brockport, said they are still reeling from the Bills firing Sean McDermott last week.

BACKGROUND: Bills fire coach Sean McDermott after 9 seasons

“The coach was doing a good enough job, and there were some deficiencies with Brady and they promoted him, so I’m not sure about that,” Filipowicz said. “If they thought the coach wasn’t doing well, they needed to go outside.”

Over at Bar-Bill East in Penfield, Nickole Lobdell of Rochester said she is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan but still loves the Bills. She is optimistic about the in-house promotion.

“I think hiring within from the offensive standpoint is probably the best thing they could have done, I would say,” Lobdell said. “I mean, pride comes from Buffalo, and to hire from within, people sort of understand that, right?”‘

Phillip Masters of Irondequoit, another fan, hopes the change will lead Buffalo to the next Super Bowl.

“I think there’s going to be a big transition,” Masters said. “(Josh) Allen and McDermott had a great relationship. So, we want to make sure Josh Allen’s happy, and hopefully hiring from inside, it’ll make a little bit of a difference.”

With Brady signing a five-year deal, Bills Mafia is gearing up for a new era.

“Hopefully it works,” Filipowicz added. “I’m a Bills fan, and I’ll be pulling for him next year to do well.”

The coaching change comes with Allen entering his ninth NFL season next year. The franchise will also be moving across the street into a newly constructed $2.1 billion stadium across the road from the original Highmark Stadium.

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