Joe Brady got promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after the Bills fired Sean McDermott, leaving their OC position vacant. So, the new head coach brought in his old mentor Pete Carmichael to help him run the attack.
The Buffalo Bills officially named Carmichael the offensive coach Saturday, marking the first-year head coach’s biggest staff hire. Just to recap, the two overlapped in New Orleans from 2017-18 when Brady was an offensive assistant under Sean Payton. Carmichael served as Saints OC for 15 seasons alongside Payton and Hall of Famer quarterback Drew Brees.
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“Pete is one of the smartest guys I have ever met. He is a football savant,” Brady said in a statement. “He was one of my mentors going back to my time in New Orleans.”
Brady praised Carmichael’s work with the Saints’ championship-winning offense, saying, “He has worked closely with a Hall of Fame coach in Sean Payton and a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, both of whom I obviously have a ton of respect for.”
The 54-year-old Carmichael spent the last two seasons as the Denver Broncos‘ senior offensive assistant. He helped contribute to their No. 10-ranked offense in the 2025 regular season before Sean Payton fired OC Joe Lombardi two days after their AFC Championship Game loss. However, in the postseason they dropped to No. 12.
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Before the Broncos, he coordinated the Saints from 2009 to 2023, producing the NFL‘s top-ranked offense. Bills’ team reporter shared that New Orleans’ offensive line was the “best of the best” during Carmichael’s tenure, averaging 385.3 total yards per game, 271.5 passing yards and 27.1 points. And the Saints were first in all those categories.
So, Brady emphasized the trust factor of Carmichael’s system in making the hire, adding, “Pete is a great communicator and has no ego. One of the most important things about having Pete on staff is that I have full trust in his vision.”
He continued, “His ability to run the meetings and installs will allow me to focus on my other duties as a head coach. We are excited to get him here in Buffalo.”
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The Bills have reached seven straight playoffs, including two AFC Championship Games, but have not made a Super Bowl since 1994. So, Brady is clearly trying to end that drought by bringing No. 1 Saints DNA to Buffalo. It remains to be seen how much Carmichael can contribute to the Bills before next season’s Super Bowl push.
Related: Bills Hire New Offensive Coordinator After Joe Brady Decision
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.