Ryan Fitzpatrick spent four of his 17 NFL seasons wearing a Buffalo Bills uniform, and even years after leaving the organization, he still proudly identifies as a fan of the organization.
That loyalty is exactly why the former quarterback felt compelled to dig deeper after the Bills made one of the most surprising moves of the offseason.
They fired head coach Sean McDermott and promoted Joe Brady to replace him following their Divisional Round defeat to the Denver Broncos.
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Like much of Bills Mafia, Fitzpatrick had questions. Unlike most fans, he had direct access to answers.
“I wanted to know a lot of the same stuff that Bills Mafia is asking about,” Fitzpatrick said on his podcast. “So I picked up the phone and called Brandon Beane.”
That conversation with the Buffalo Bills general manager revealed a central truth behind the decision: Brady was not promoted simply because of his offensive résumé or his work with quarterback Josh Allen.
According to Fitzpatrick, leadership was the driving factor: “A big part of the process is that they wanted a CEO,” Fitzpatrick said of Beane‘s explanation.
“They weren’t going to chase this guy that was a schemer or this guy that was an awesome play-caller. They wanted a CEO.”
Joe Brady: A coach and CEO?
According to Fitzpatrick, Beane and Bills owner Terry Pegula were searching for a coach capable of overseeing the entire organization – someone who could build a culture, not just manage the offensive side of the ball.
The hope is that Brady can become a franchise-defining leader in the mold of Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, or Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions.
What separated Brady, according to Beane, was his emotional intelligence and ability to connect with players.
“He wanted a guy who knows what makes players tick. A guy with high emotional intelligence,” Fitzpatrick said.
“He didn’t want the guy who, when adversity hit, would lock himself in his office and just start scheming up plays. He wanted a guy who would have a great feel for the building.”
For the Bills, the promotion of Brady represents a philosophical shift. It is one rooted in leadership and stability for the long-term.
But that will only work if Brady‘s work as an OC transfers to his new role as head coach.
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