NFL coaching moves are always judged on a mix of résumé, fit, and timing.
Sometimes the splashiest name isn’t the best answer, and sometimes continuity beats a flashy reset.
With that in mind, here’s a look at two coaching decisions (one real, one often-rumored) that land in very different places on the excitement scale.
Buffalo Bills: Joe Brady Gets a Solid B
The Bills sticking with Joe Brady earns a respectable B grade—not thrilling, but sensible.
After taking over play-calling duties, Brady helped stabilize an offense that badly needed balance.
Buffalo became less Josh Allen–or-bust and more willing to lean on the run game and quick concepts.
That shift paid off in efficiency, reduced turnovers, and a calmer overall offensive identity.
So why not an A?
Because while Brady improved the floor, he hasn’t yet proven he can raise the ceiling.
The Bills’ offense looked cleaner, but not revolutionary.
Against top-tier defenses, it still leaned heavily on Allen’s improvisation rather than consistently schemed advantages.
Why the grade works:
✅ Continuity for Josh Allen
✅ Better balance and situational play-calling
❌ Still unproven as a long-term elite offensive architect
Brady is a good bet, especially compared to rolling the dice on an outside hire.
But until the Bills offense becomes truly matchup-proof in January, a B feels right.
Hypothetical Steelers Move: Mike McCarthy Would Be Underwhelming
If Mike McCarthy were ever seriously linked to the Steelers, the reaction in Pittsburgh should be… muted at best.
McCarthy’s résumé is undeniable: Super Bowl ring, years of playoff appearances, and experience managing star quarterbacks.
But that’s also the problem.
His success has almost always been tied to elite QB play—first Aaron Rodgers, then Dak Prescott.
Even then, his offenses often stalled when creativity and adaptability were required most.
For a Steelers team that:
values physical identity,
prides itself on defensive toughness,
and desperately needs offensive innovation,
McCarthy would feel like a step sideways, not forward.
Why Steelers fans shouldn’t be excited:
❌ Scheme hasn’t evolved much with the league
❌ History of playoff underachievement
❌ Questionable fit with Pittsburgh’s culture and roster needs
He’s a safe name, not a bold solution.
And for a franchise trying to escape offensive mediocrity, “safe” isn’t good enough.
Final Verdict
Bills + Joe Brady: B grade
Smart, steady, and defensible—but still waiting on proof it can deliver a championship-level offense.Steelers + Mike McCarthy (hypothetical): Low ceiling move
Experienced, yes. Inspiring or transformative? Not really.
In today’s NFL, coaching hires aren’t about who’s survived the longest—they’re about who can evolve the fastest.
Buffalo is cautiously moving in that direction. Pittsburgh, if faced with that choice, should aim higher.
