A few days ago, several sources close to the Arizona Cardinals reported that the team had narrowed the coaching search to three candidates.
As of this morning, that number is officially down to two after the recent hiring by one AFC East club.
Joe Brady Hired As Bills’ Full-Time Head Coach
MORE: Why Arizona's Defense Would Be Intriguing For Vance Joseph
MORE: Arizona Cardinals 2026 NFL Draft: Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price Scouting Report
Serving as the offensive coordinator to the now former head coach, Sean McDermott, Joe Brady was officially tapped in as the new head coach in Buffalo. Reported by ESPN, the team is finalizing a five-year deal with the offensive mastermind.
Brady, 36, served as the interim offensive coordinator in 2023 after the team fired Ken Dorsey. After an excellent performance in his role as interim, he became the full-time offensive coordinator.
Brady helped Josh Allen maintain his dominance over the past two seasons, playing a huge role in the 29-year-old’s MVP campaign just a year ago.
Brady will have the opportunity to coach Allen for the long-term now and have excellent skill pieces to match, such as running back James Cook.
The Cardinals could’ve really used the brains of a guy like Joe Brady to help take an offense full of talent to the next level. While it is unfortunate to see him pull out of their coaching search, the team has other candidates to rely on. One of the guys is Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, who many believe is the front-runner for the job in Arizona.
With one of the top candidates officially off the board, it will be interesting to see how general manager Monti Ossenfort conducts the remainder of the coaching search in Arizona. How will he sell the role to a candidate in an interview?