Former Saints’ OC reunited with Joe Brady in Buffalo

By Ross Jackson

Over the last few years, the Denver Broncos have become the default landing spot assumption for departing New Orleans Saints. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton turned the Broncos into a “New Orleans West” with several former Saints players and staffers now on the roster and staff in Denver. 

Now, there’s potential for a “Saints Northeast” division to be built with former Saints passing game coordinator Joe Brady taking the reins for the Buffalo Bills. That transformation has already begun with the new head coach’s first staff hire. 

The first big hire for #Bills coach Joe Brady: Buffalo has agreed to terms with Pete Carmichael Jr. to be their offensive coordinator, per The Insiders.

The long-time Sean Payton lieutenant has been a #Broncos senior offensive assistant. He was a long-time OC for the #Saints. pic.twitter.com/PW23y6lOpF

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2026

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bills and Brady are hiring former Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael to serve the same role in Buffalo. 

Carmichael spent the 2025 season with Denver as the senior offensive assistant. 

This role likely won’t ask him to call plays for the Bills offense, putting him back in a similar position to what he was asked to do in New Orleans under Payton. Carmichael was a playcaller in 2022 and 2023 with New Orleans, but success was limited. 

The Saints’ current coaching staff has seen some interest from then Pittsburgh Steelers, who hired another former Saints offensive staffer in Mike McCarthy to be their head coach. 

However, it looks like Buffalo is likely to see a lot of former Saints coaching staff members in the mix as the New Orleans roots look to take shape in another market.