Fan reaction to Brady’s elevation was muted at best. Polls cited by Bills beat writer Tyler Dunne of Go Long showed only about 8% to 9.5% approval, and a FanSided grade of “B” came with cautionary notes that Buffalo, a team near a Super Bowl window, might regret not pursuing a high-profile hire. The simultaneous change in leadership fed the sense of a controversial shift for a franchise accustomed to climbing the postseason ladder.
Beane did not mince words when addressing critics, according to Dunne’s reporting. He dismissed outside noise as irrelevant to the franchise’s football decisions, emphasizing that the organization was focused on selecting what was best for Buffalo. Beane also said he would have regretted not hiring Brady if the coach left for another organization, and he pointed to Brady’s pursuit by other teams, including two interviews with the Baltimore Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady’s track record as offensive coordinator provided some justification for the move. In three seasons in Buffalo, the Bills ranked second in offensive points in 2025, fourth in 2024, and sixth in 2023. Buffalo reached the playoffs in all three seasons under Brady, though postseason runs ended with a divisional-round loss in 2025 to Denver, and earlier losses to Kansas City in 2023 and 2024 (the latter in the AFC Championship Game).
Beane closed with a pointed caveat about the franchise’s direction: the club’s ultimate goal is to win games, not win press conferences. He suggested that fan reaction would follow on-field results—positive if the team succeeds, or a difficult road if the hires do not pan out—emphasizing accountability for the franchise’s personnel decisions.
