Recent Super Bowl champions had offensive pedigrees ... like Joe Brady. Take a look
Here is a look at the past 10 Super Bowl-winning coaches, their ages at the time of their hirings and their backgrounds before getting the job – a list new Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady will try to join as soon as next season.
Brandon Beane made it clear last week what’s ahead for the Buffalo Bills.
“We have to get it over the top,” the team’s new president of football operations said. “And that starts with finding the right head coach.”
That search landed on Joe Brady, the team's offensive coordinator the past two-plus seasons. The Bills cast a wide night in their search, formally interviewing nine candidates. Brady was the first of those interviews and was one of seven candidates with an offensive background, if you count Philip Rivers' playing experience at quarterback.
“There is no front-runner. Old, young, former coach, first-time coach. We're opening every door,” Beane said last week of the search. “We've got to find the right guy for this team to help get us over the hump.”
In approaching the Bills' search, two major schools of thought existed. The first was hiring a defensive coach to fix that unit, which faltered in the biggest moments and was the primary reason for Buffalo's repeated playoff failures under Sean McDermott.
The second school of thought was to pair Josh Allen with an offensive-minded head coach, because the franchise isn’t at risk of seeing that coach leave in a couple seasons for a promotion. That's what Beane and Co. ultimately settled on in choosing Brady.
His promotion to head coach follows a trend in the NFL. Of the past 10 Super Bowl-winning coaches, eight had an offensive background. Of the eight coaches hired so far during this cycle, with two openings remaining, four coaches have offensive backgrounds – Brady, Cleveland Browns coach Todd Monken, Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy.
Three coaches come from defensive backgrounds – Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh, Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter and Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley. New York Giants coach John Harbaugh had a special-teams background before he led the Ravens from 2008-25.
Here is a look at the past 10 Super Bowl-winning coaches, their ages at the time of their hirings and their backgrounds before getting the job – a list Brady will try to join as soon as next season:
2024, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles coach and Jamestown native Nick Sirianni looks on during the national anthem before kickoff against the Bills on Dec. 28, 2025,
at Highmark Stadium. Siranni won Super Bowl LIX with the Eagles last February.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Head coach: Nick Sirianni.
Hired: Jan. 24, 2021.
Age at the time: 39.
Background: Sirianni, a Jamestown native, worked as the Colts’ offensive coordinator for three seasons before joining the Eagles, although he did not call the offensive plays in Indianapolis. That job was handled by then-head coach Frank Reich.
2023, 2022, 2018 Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs coach Andy Reid has led his team to three Super Bowl championships.
Doug Benc, Associated Press
Coach: Andy Reid.
Hired: Jan. 4, 2013.
Age at the time: 54.
Background: It’s hard to believe, but Reid has now been with the Chiefs nearly as long as he was with the Eagles. He spent 14 years as the head coach in Philadelphia, taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl once, but failing to win it all. He’s now been with the Chiefs for 13 seasons. Reid is considered one of the best play-callers in NFL history.
2021, Los Angeles Rams
Coach: Sean McVay.Hired: Jan. 12, 2017.
Age at the time: 30.
Background: At the time he was hired, McVay became the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern era. He served as Washington’s offensive coordinator for three seasons before heading to the Rams, developing a reputation as one of the brightest young offensive minds in the league.
2020, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coach: Bruce Arians.Hired: Jan. 8, 2019.
Age at the time: 66.
Background: Quite the opposite of McVay, Arians was one of the oldest coaches in NFL history when he was hired. Another offensive-minded coach, Arians was considered a quarterback whisperer during his career, working with Tom Brady in Tampa, as well as Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Carson Palmer.
2016, 2018, New England Patriots
Coach: Bill Belichick.Hired: Jan. 27, 2000.
Age at the time: 48.
Background: Thought of as one of the best defensive minds in NFL history, Belichick had two Super Bowl rings from his time as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants before he came to New England. He ended up winning six more with the Patriots, becoming known as one of the best head coaches of all time. His game plan in the 2018 Super Bowl win over the Rams was perfect.
2017, Philadelphia Eagles
Coach: Doug Pederson.Hired: Jan. 18, 2016.
Age at the time: 47.
Background: A former quarterback, Pederson coached with Reid in Kansas City, taking over play-calling duties during the 2015 season. His success in that job landed him back in Philadelphia, where he had started his coaching career. Pederson led the Eagles to the Super Bowl despite backup quarterback Nick Foles having to replace injured starter Carson Wentz for the duration of the postseason.
2015, Denver Broncos
Coach: Gary Kubiak.Hired: Jan. 18, 2015.
Age at the time: 53.
Background: Kubiak was the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator in the 2014 season before coming to the Broncos. Before that, he was the Houston Texans’ head coach from 2006-13. Like Pederson, Kubiak played quarterback before starting his coaching career on the offensive side. He won the Super Bowl in his first season with the Broncos as head coach – the same goal Brady will have with the Bills in 2026.
Takeaway: Recent history leans strongly in favor of an offensive-minded head coach. Belichick, arguably the greatest coach in history, is the only coach with a defensive background through this past stretch of 10 Super Bowl champions. There is a wide variation in age, shown by the Bucs hiring Arians and the Rams hiring McVay. Brady is 36.