The Buffalo Bills' new offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is bringing plenty of experience to his new gig with the Bills. Carmichael comes to Buffalo with 32 years of coaching experience, 26 of that being in the NFL.
Working closely with coaches like Sean Payton and quarterbacks like Drew Brees for years will certainly pay off with a new team that has big goals. Carmichael addressed the media for the first time as the Bills' offensive coordinator on Thursday afternoon. One thing that quickly stood out was his passion and excitement for the game of football.
'Something special' | Why Carmichael can't wait to work with Joe Brady
Head coach Joe Brady and Carmichael shared some time together under Payton in New Orleans. It was only two seasons (2017-18), but it was more than enough time to make an impact on each other. Such an impact that Carmichael was waiting for a chance to get back with Brady.
"I'm excited to be here," Carmichael said. "I've waited about seven years to have an opportunity to get back with coaching with Joe Brady."
Carmichael loves Brady's love for the game and knowledge that comes along with it. He saw quickly that Brady had a gift when it came to communicating with players.
"I just love his passion," Carmichael said of his HC. "He loves the game, he loves to be around it. His ability to communicate to the players, there's just so much about it and early on when we started working together, you could tell right away that there's something special about this guy."
Even though Brady is currently the NFL's youngest active head coach at 36 years old, Carmichael knew back in 2018 that Brady was going to be different after two short seasons together with the Saints. Carmichael recalls interviewing Brady and knowing he would have a special connection with quarterbacks even though he played wide receiver in college at William & Mary.
"We kind of knew right away, he needs to be in the quarterback room," Carmichael said. "Just hearing him talk, the way he communicated, could paint a clear picture. Early in his time in the QB room, whether Sean Payton was talking, Drew Brees was talking … He had his head down and he was writing notes.
"Eventually, maybe Sean might ask him a question, and you'd hear the answer. You'd be like, 'Oh.' And so, then the questions became more and more because he could create, he had knowledge of the game and could create such a good picture with his communication."
Plenty of other coaches noticed Brady's ability to understand the game and communicate it effectively. Carmichael was asked by Ed Orgeron to present to LSU's staff one offseason and he brought Brady along to talk about the RPO (run pass option).
"I did my little bit with the offensive staff, the pro-personnel guy did his thing, and then all of a sudden it was Joe's turn to talk," Carmichael said thinking back to the meeting. "And when I tell you the whole building was in there and I was kind of like, 'Oh, we were just the opening act for this guy, for this rockstar.' And I'm telling you, I started taking notes, just listening to him talk. You knew early on that this guy was going to be pretty good."
Brady said he treated that presentation as interview practice. In 2019, Brady was hired by the Tigers as their passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He helped the team win a national championship that year with quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
"This is my opportunity to get in front of some of the great minds in our game, I'm just a coaching assistant, right?" Brady said thinking back to the day. "I'll never forget I got in the car after and Pete Carmichael looked at me, was like, 'That guy's probably going to hire you.' And then pretty shortly (after I got hired), I kind of brushed it off. And, it ended up working out that way."
Game planning to call the game | How Carmichael will mesh with Brady as the OC
Brady made it clear from his first day on the job that he will be the offensive play caller for the Bills. What Brady was also clear about was the fact that the offensive coordinator doesn't take on a lesser role because Brady will be calling the shots on game days.
Brady is looking for Carmichael to prepare as if he will be the play caller, and he knows he will.
"Pete game plans to call the game," Brady said of his OC. "I think sometimes people think an offensive coordinator that's a non-play caller is just kind of like an assistant or is just getting everything ready for you. That's not what I was looking for, and that's not what Pete is. If I ever in any moment of the game, can't call the game, Pete is always prepared to call it."
Brady said that Carmichael's job won't be any different than Brady's when he was Buffalo's offensive coordinator, aside from the fact that he won't call the plays. Brady knows there will be plenty of times where he cannot be in an offensive meeting room. He wants someone like Carmichael who can take over and lead.
It's also not Carmichael's first time being an OC without calling plays. Dating back to his New Orleans days, Carmichael said there were years where Payton called the plays and he helped support where needed.
"It's not like he's just sitting waiting around for me to make decisions," Brady said. "He's taking control and he's rolling with it. And we spent a lot of time in the off season of sharing and understanding the vision and what we're building, putting it all together so that the offensive staff can continue moving forward when I'm not in the room. I know Pete can do that because I've sat there and seen how the train keeps moving, even when Coach Payton wasn't in there."
Carmichael has more than 30 years of coaching experience and has now coached for six different NFL teams. He's ready to do whatever it takes to help a first-time head coach succeed.
"I think there's a little bit of organization that comes with that," Carmichael said of his responsibilities. "Making sure that the staff is all on the same page when Joe is not going to be able to be there, when Sean (Payton) used to not be able to be there, which was more often than maybe you think … But again, just when it comes to even just creating the game plan and coming up with some ideas that the head coach is going to like, 'Hey here's some thoughts for you, I put them together.' It's really the process of whatever's going on without him being able to be in the room that his message is being portrayed."
Brady believes he's the perfect fit for the job because of his experience around great teams, his effective coaching and communication skills.
"He's as bright as they come, as organized [as they come]," Brady said. "And he's a great communicator. I think those are all critical. I obviously know I can't do it all."
Why Carmichael feels a ton of excitement to coach QB Josh Allen and RB James Cook
Carmichael worked with some ultra-talented quarterbacks over the years. He gets another one with Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Buffalo's new OC most recently coached Denver quarterback Bo Nix as the Broncos' senior offensive assistant from 2024-25. Carmichael played an integral part in the early development of Nix as the team made an AFC Championship appearance after winning 14 regular season games in 2025.
Carmichael had an extensive amount of time with Brees when the two overlapped in New Orleans from 2006-20 as well. The two won a Super Bowl together (2009) and Brees was a two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011) under his guise.
With an MVP quarterback like Allen, Carmichael said there's a ton to be thrilled about.
"The fact of the matter is not all plays called are great ones, but all sudden he can make a great play out of a play that is defended pretty well," Carmichael said of his new QB. "He can tuck the ball and run. There's just so much about his game that's to be excited about."
Allen is also looking forward to getting in the film room with his new OC. Knowing how much success Carmichael had with Brees, Allen believes it could mean a lot for his game.
"I think just having that experience of being around Drew Brees for so long, the play-action pass game and maybe a little bit of the vertical passing game that he has familiarity with," Allen said of what stands out to Nate Tice on Yahoo Sports. "So very excited to have both (Pete Carmichael and Jim Leonhard) of them on board and very much looking forward to the future with them."
Brady believes Carmichael and Allen will be a good fit due to Carmichael's coaching resume and Allen's success.
"I think Pete is an incredible communicator that has been around a lot of great and seen a lot of great QB play," Brady said. "Understands what it looks like but understands that there's not one way that it should look like. I've seen the impact that he has on quarterbacks like Drew [Brees] throughout his career, and how much respect a guy like Drew Brees has in Pete Carmichael. And then also knowing that Pete doesn't view it as this is how I coached Drew Brees, this is how you have to coach Josh Allen.
"Understanding both of their personalities and how they're going to mix with our quarterback coach, and I'm really excited about the group we're kind of putting together."
While Carmichael was Brees' OC (2009-20), Brees and the Saints offense were the toughest in the league to stop. Brees racked up the NFL's most touchdowns (423), averaged the most passing yards per game (300.6) and had the highest completion percentage (69.7 percent) over that span.
In terms of how Carmichael will work with Allen, the OC said it starts with valuing his conversations with the star quarterback and knowing Allen has a say in how the offense operates.
"Just sit down and really form a relationship with him, not just football related, but just outside and family," Carmichael said. "… I think that the number one thing will be whenever we're designing a play or coming up with a scheme, which obviously, most of that's set in stone. But maybe there'll be some new ads. It's got to be something that he loves, and it's got to fit our personnel as well.
"But if there's something that, 'Hey, Josh, I got this idea.' And he's like, 'Ehh.' Then we don't need it.'"
Carmichael also gets to coach the NFL's rushing title leader from this year in running back James Cook III. Cook led the league with 1,621 rushing yards from 309 carries (third). He also averaged 5.2 yards per carry (second) and scored 12 rushing touchdowns (tied for sixth).
Carmichael also has experience coaching explosive running backs. He was running back Alvin Kamara's offensive coordinator for seven seasons. Buffalo's new OC is ready to bring any tips from coaching Kamara to Cook.
"You just give them a little coaching point, have an opportunity to talk to them and visit with them," Carmichael said. "Just anything that he might be able to use, whether it is something that, 'Hey, Alvin used to do this.' Or whatever. But I think I'm real excited about the player."
In terms of getting Cook more involved in the passing game, Carmichael said it boils down to being sure those plays are installed for him.
"As you're game planning during the week, you're making sure that, 'Hey, there's enough in there for him.' And that those opportunities are going to happen. There are some teams where you might feel better about your matchups inside with your running backs and your tight ends, as opposed to on the outside. I think it can vary week to week. But just giving him those opportunities, getting the ball in his hands."
