Joe Brady is venturing into the new world of being a head coach and bringing a trusted advisor along with him.
Brady's former superior and longtime Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is joining the new coach's staff in Buffalo in the same role, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported.
Carmichael spent the last two seasons as a senior offensive assistant under Sean Payton in Denver and represents a significant hire for Brady, providing the first-time head coach with a seasoned lieutenant with whom Brady is familiar from their two seasons spent together in New Orleans. Brady worked under Carmichael as an offensive assistant with the Saints from 2017-2018, cutting his teeth in the pro game before moving onto LSU and eventually Carolina over the following two seasons.
Carmichael's greatest claim to fame over his three decades in coaching is his work accomplished with future Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees, with whom Carmichael worked closely under Payton from 2006 through Brees' final NFL season of 2020. With Carmichael in charge, the Saints finished first in total yards per game four times (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016) and earned a top-four ranking in four other seasons (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017), burnishing Carmichael's reputation as a top offensive coordinator. He remained in New Orleans after Payton stepped down before the Saints parted ways with Carmichael at the end of the 2023 season, freeing the veteran coordinator to join Payton in Denver for the last two seasons.
Carmichael's role in Buffalo should resemble the one he occupied in New Orleans. Like Payton did with the Saints, Brady will call plays for the Bills but will undoubtedly lean on Carmichael as a vital resource in weekly planning and overall strategy as he further builds on the offensive approach he established as Bills offensive coordinator prior to his promotion.
If the product looks anything like it did when Carmichael was in New Orleans, Bills fans should expect to enjoy watching a top-flight offense in Buffalo beginning in 2026. Brady, meanwhile, can embark on his new role knowing he won't be doing it alone.