The Bills Return as One of the Leagues Best Offenses in 2026
The Bills are coming off another successful season. Well, successful in the broader sense, as the Bills have made the playoffs seven years in a row but have failed to reach the Super Bowl in all seven seasons. Despite the lack of playoff success, the offense has consistently ranked among the NFL's best in most major metrics. Josh Allen has transformed the trajectory of the franchise, cementing himself in Buffalo’s history books, and is on track to be the best quarterback in franchise history. Heading into 2026, the Bills have made some huge moves as they look forward to another dominant season.
The End of the McDermott Era
Shortly after losing to the Broncos in the 2025 playoffs, the front office decided to part ways with long-time head coach Sean McDermott. A long-time defensive coordinator, he spent most of his time with the Carolina Panthers during their competitive years. Hired in 2017, McDermott quickly ushered in a new era in Buffalo, reaching the playoffs in his first year as head coach, breaking an 18-year drought. After taking a step back in 2018, he posted his only losing season as the Bills' head coach. With the ascension of Allen, McDermott would not miss the playoffs again or post a losing record. He kept the defense anchored, putting together top 10 defenses year in, and year out.
Buffalo Joins the Coaching Carousel
The NFL experienced a record-tying 10 head coaching vacancies in 2025. With the Bills deciding to join the fray, the clock started ticking for an answer. Despite the sacking of McDermott, the upper brass sided with general manager Brandon Beane, keeping him on as the team’s GM. Now, with Beane still in place, the race was on. Buffalo was already considered one of the best landing spots for any coach. Allen was already firmly established as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, with a top-10 offensive line, decent receivers, and the 2025 rushing leader in James Cook. The Bills launched an extensive head coach search, interviewing many of the league’s young assistants and coordinators. Finally, on January 27th, Buffalo decided on their guy. Buffalo agreed to terms with their offensive coordinator of the last two seasons, Joe Brady, on a contract that would keep him as their head coach for the next five years.
At 36, Brady is the youngest active head coach in the NFL. Despite his age, he doesn’t lack experience or results. Brady first started his coaching career in 2013 at William & Mary as a linebackers coach. He quickly rose through the ranks, getting his first shot in the NFL in 2017 under Sean Payton. He then went on to coach at LSU during their legendary 2019 undefeated season. LSU’s undefeated season landed Brady his first coordinator job for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. Things blew up in Carolina, leading to his termination in 2021. Brady then became a quarterbacks coach for the Bills in 2022, stepping in as the team's interim offensive coordinator in 2023. Under Brady, the Bills turned around their 2023 season, and have been top 10 in yards per game in every year as offensive coordinator.
The 2025 Season and The Rushing Title
In 2025, Buffalo’s offense was firing on all cylinders. The Bills finished as the most efficient rushing team in the NFL, averaging 159 rushing yards per game and five yards per rushing attempt. Brady was able to utilize the roster to its full capabilities, with Cook taking the next step as an elite running back. Cook and Brady have been great together, with Cook crossing the 1,000 rushing yard mark three years in a row. 2025 was no different as Cook ascended, finishing his season with 1,621 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 5.2 yards-per-carry, selected to his third straight Pro Bowl and his first appearance as an all-pro.
The Bills' passing game left much to be desired, though not all the blame can be placed on Brady. The Bills' passing attack did not have a single receiver eclipse 800 yards. Khalil Shakir led the team in receiving with 719, 72 receptions, and four touchdowns. Shakir is not a bad receiver by any means, but he is not a dominant wide receiver. The Bills have been looking for their star receiver since Stefon Diggs was traded in 2024. Buffalo has primarily looked for the answer in the draft, taking Dalton Kincaid in 2023 and Keon Coleman in 2024. Both were high draft picks, with Kincaid taken in the first round with the 25th pick and Coleman taken with the 33rd pick. Kincaid has shown flashes of potential and has carved out a role for himself in the Bills' offense. Coleman has had a more tumultuous time, being a healthy scratch in multiple games in 2025 for disciplinary reasons. He also hasn’t taken the huge steps forward that Buffalo needs.
I’ll keep the Allen talk brief. We all know who he is at this point. 2025 was Allen’s worst passing year since 2019. He finished with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 69% completion rate. 2024 was also a down year in terms of passing yards. Before 2024, Allen had consecutive years with over 4,000 passing yards from 2020 to 2023. The downturn in passing yards can be attributed to the loss of Diggs and Brady taking over the offense. Under Brady, the offense has taken a much more balanced approach, allowing Allen to utilize all his talents.
The Offensive Titans Return with More Fire Power
Before the start of free agency, the Bills were able to reach an agreement with their starting center. Buffalo and Connor McGovern agreed to terms on March seventh. McGovern was sure to be one of the hottest commodities on the market, being ranked as the second-best center in the free agency class. McGovern signed a four-year contract worth $52 million, with $26 million guaranteed at signing and $31 million guaranteed. Buffalo locks up one of the best centers in the game, making him the fifth-highest-paid center.
The Bills weren’t done, though. On March 11th, Buffalo and the Chicago Bears agreed to a trade for star receiver DJ Moore. Moore has a storied career in Carolina, ranking among the franchise's best receivers. Moore was traded to Chicago as part of a blockbuster deal in 2023. In Chicago, Moore had some years down with a revolving door of quarterbacks and coaching staffs. The former Panthers is a huge addition to the Bills' offense, immediately filling their biggest offensive holes. Allen’s best passing seasons come alongside Diggs, as one of the best duos in the league. Even better, this trade reunites Moore and Brady. Moore played under Brady during his time as Carolina’s offensive coordinator. By all accounts, this trade should be one of the better ones in the league. The Bills have been desperately searching for their star receiver, finally deciding to forget the draft and trade for an established star. Adding Moore should unlock another level for the Bills' offense. By all accounts, the Bills' offense in 2026 should be one of the most potent and explosive in the league.
