We Talk Ourselves into Liking the Bills & Browns Coaching Hires

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Albert Breer explains why the Bills' rushed hiring of Joe Brady might signal a deeper organizational misstep.

This episode of The MMQB NFL Podcast features hosts Connor Orr and Albert Breer analyzing the recent head coaching hires by the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. Orr and Breer, both seasoned NFL reporters, dissect the rationale and potential impact of these decisions. They specifically examine the Bills' promotion of offensive coordinator Joe Brady and the Browns' hiring of veteran offensive mind Todd Monken. The Bills fired Sean McDermott, a highly successful coach, after a playoff loss and promoted Brady, who impressed in his CEO-style interview. Brady previously was a runner-up for the Atlanta Falcons job in 2021 and rebuilt his career in Buffalo after being fired by Carolina. The hosts note the Bills' search seemed streamlined, including an interview with retired quarterback Philip Rivers, suggesting the front office may have always targeted Brady. A critical early test for Brady will be hiring a defensive coordinator, with names like Jim Leonhard and Jim Schwartz mentioned. The Bills' roster needs include a true number-one wide receiver to pair with Josh Allen and a pass rusher to revitalize the defense. In Cleveland, Todd Monken received a five-year deal, and a major question is whether elite defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will stay. Schwartz, 58, reportedly wants another head coaching opportunity and may not remain as just a coordinator. The Browns' unusual interview process included a cognitive test, a personality assessment, and essay questions about player development. One specific question asked candidates how they would develop quarterback Shedeur Sanders. An interesting insight is that the Bills' ownership, despite appearing reactive, acted with the passion of a frustrated fan, which some fan bases might appreciate. Breer suggests Joe Brady, a Sean Payton disciple, could flourish with full control like Payton did in New Orleans. The hosts argue pairing Monken's offensive acumen with Schwartz's defensive expertise could create a strong CEO-style leadership team, similar to when Denver hired Vic Fangio and Mike Munchak together. They note Super Bowl teams excel in procedural penalties and game management, areas where experienced coaches like Monken might have an edge. The Browns' extensive hiring tests stemmed from self-analysis, questioning why past "homerun interviews" like Hue Jackson failed while coaches like Andy Reid succeeded with fewer interviews. Developing young talent like defensive tackle Mason Graham and running back Dylan Sampson is considered crucial for Cleveland's future, given their draft capital. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending insider reporting with personal anecdotes and measured skepticism. The style is informal, featuring digressions about snowstorms and bomb cyclones before diving into football business. NFL fans who enjoy deep dives into front-office strategy and coaching hires will love this episode. Listeners seeking pure game analysis or breaking news might skip the more procedural and speculative discussion.

As heard by us

A weather-streaked coaching debate about the small edges that decide games.

The topic follows a coaching pairing to make the case that some staffs only look sharp once the game is moving. It starts with Boston-to-New Jersey travel chaos, a snowstorm on the way, and the familiar stock-up instinct for bread, milk, eggs, and extra water, so the football…

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If you want a coaching-hire debate with snowstorm detours and Super Bowl logistics, start here.

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