Why Ryan Fitzpatrick likes Bills' Joe Brady hire despite being 'as shocked as the fans' by new coaching move

The NFL caput manager carousel came to an extremity implicit the weekend, arsenic each squad crossed the league present has a antheral starring the mode into the 2026 season.

There were immoderate surprises, though, among them the Buffalo Bills, a squad that fired caput manager Sean McDermott aft falling to the Denver Broncos successful the AFC Divisional Round past month.

The enactment came nether occurrence from immoderate successful the shot world, who believed wide manager Brandon Beane should've been axed with McDermott. Instead, Beane received a promotion and led the complaint connected uncovering the adjacent person connected the sideline.

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Buffalo Bills violative coordinator Joe Brady stands connected the tract earlier an NFL shot crippled against the Miami Dolphins successful Miami Gardens, Florida, connected Nov. 9, 2025. (Doug Murray, File/AP Photo)

Instead of hiring extracurricular the building, the franchise went with Joe Brady, their violative coordinator who was connected McDermott's unit for the past fewer seasons. Once again, the caput scratching ensued — wherefore would the Bills prosecute idiosyncratic wrong the organization?

Former Bills backmost Ryan Fitzpatrick, who actively roots for the Bills since his playing days came to an end, had the aforesaid questions erstwhile helium saw the hire.

"When they made the move, I was arsenic shocked arsenic the fans," helium told Fox News Digital successful a caller interview. "I got substance chains and worldly with my buddies successful Buffalo, and everybody was having the aforesaid question of kinda what you conscionable proposed. ‘We request change. We person to deviate from the program due to the fact that we person to get implicit the hump.’ Well, you conscionable hired idiosyncratic that was successful the gathering and a portion of a batch of this, astatine leas the past fewer years."

Unlike those fans, Fitzpatrick has the avenues to spell consecutive to the root to reply his questions. First, it was a transparent chat with Beane.

"So, what other could I bash but telephone Brandon Beane? And I was amazed we got to person a speech and conscionable speech done it," helium said. "I asked him a batch of questions and his biggest happening was, ‘Look, I was blown distant by Joe, too.’ Because erstwhile you’re an violative coordinator, it’s a batch antithetic than being a caput coach. As an violative coordinator, you’re nether the caput coach, truthful you don’t get to accidental a batch of your opinions, however to tally an organization, each these antithetic things. So, I deliberation successful the interrogation process, they learned a batch astir Joe Brady."

Then, Fitzpatrick got connected with Brady himself.

Ryan Fitzpatrick looks connected from the TNF connected Prime acceptable anterior to an NFL shot crippled betwixt the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Texans astatine NRG Stadium connected Nov. 20, 2025 successful Houston, Texas. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

"I had a fewer moments to beryllium down and speech to him," helium explained. "I had possibly said hullo oregon bye to him, but ne'er truly got a accidental to speech to him before. You’re going to consciousness it successful his interviews erstwhile you ticker him — there’s an authenticity there. He’s real. The guys emotion playing for him, and I deliberation that’s going to help. I deliberation conscionable the looseness of that successful possibly immoderate of the game’s biggest moments, that’s thing that [will beryllium beneficial] for the Bills with him arsenic the caput coach."

Since taking implicit arsenic the Bills’ violative coordinator, which came during the 2024 season, the squad ranked 2nd and 4th successful points crossed the league, respectively. Brady was successful Josh Allen’s helmet successful 2024 erstwhile helium won his archetypal vocation MVP, getting originative with 1 of the champion awesome callers successful the league. 

The Bills lacked prima powerfulness successful the walk crippled successful 2025, though Brady was inactive capable to strategy things up for Allen arsenic good arsenic the league’s starring rusher, James Cook. Buffalo was the champion rushing discourtesy successful the NFL, and 4th wide successful yards. 

But volition Brady beryllium capable to grip the full package? Not each violative oregon antiaircraft coordinators tin construe to the larger relation effectively, but Fitzpatrick said Beane told him helium didn’t privation Brady retired of the gathering getting that shot. 

The Bills are assured they got the prosecute right, and Fitzpatrick feels amended astir it having talked to the men successful charge. 

All that matters, though, is what Brady and the Bills are capable to bash travel September, arsenic their title model with Allen shuts a small spot much by the year. 

Buffalo Bills violative coordinator Joe Brady looks connected anterior to a crippled against the Cleveland Browns astatine Huntington Bank Field successful Cleveland, Ohio, connected Dec. 21, 2025. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

Brady knows the instrumentality basal is bare for astatine slightest different travel backmost to the Super Bowl, fto unsocial their first-ever Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

ONE HAPPY ISLAND, ONE HAPPY FITZ

After a agelong shot season, Fitzpatrick and his wife, Liza, visited Aruba for immoderate well-earned relaxation to reset and recharge earlier the Super Bowl.

He partnered with the Aruba Tourism Authority, which showcases the island’s committedness to liable tourism, which includes protecting the island’s earthy environment, celebrating section civilization and inviting guests to question mindfully done the Aruba Promise and Guest Guidelines.

Fitzpatrick did that and loved each infinitesimal of it, arsenic helium experienced the outdoor manner that Aruba, nicknamed "One Happy Island," has to offer.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and his wife, Liza, enjoyed their clip successful Aruba aft the 2025 NFL season. (Aruba Tourism Authority)

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"My woman and I — 7 kids. So, we precise seldom get away. So, erstwhile we get away, we gotta marque definite it’s the close spot, and this 1 hit. It has the white-sand beaches, it has the resort, which is great. But it besides has the adventure. I’m not a feline that likes to conscionable beryllium connected the formation and get the tan each time long. There was hiking, we were swimming successful a earthy pool, we went and searched immoderate caves a small bit.

"The large happening for my woman and I, close distant you consciousness relaxed. Then, we travel location and determination is this aerial of happiness and rejuvenation that we’re feeling. It stayed with us."

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