‘“You want somebody that can build these relationships, to get the trust, to get the buy-in, to get the ownership in everything that you are trying to get accomplished.”’
Archives for February 6, 2026
Lance Lysowski: Jim Leonhard an important part of Bills’ plan to revamp their defense
‘“There is going to be change. It’s been a system that they’ve played in for a long time and just the structure of what they’ve done and how they’ve done it, and why they have done it,” Leonhard explained Thursday during his first press conference as Bills defensive coordinator. “It’s going to be a change for them, but we’re excited as a coaching staff to really be able to create something that is best for their skill sets and fits their personalities. I am big on flexibility and being able to play to your best players and force offenses to try to find your issues and to have to deal with their own problems, not always being reactive.”’
Former Bills DC Leslie Frazier chasing third Super Bowl ring as Seahawks assistant head coach
‘“No doubt. He’s brought me knowledge, experience, calmness, understanding,” Durde said. “A shoulder to lean on. A mentor, a friend. To me, he’s an integral part of the defense. Well, the team, but defensively, he’s huge. I owe him a lot.”’
Private equity firm with stake in Buffalo Bills sold in $1.4 billion deal
‘Arctos Partners, which is the largest institutional investor in professional sports franchises such as the Bills, has entered into an agreement to be bought by global investment firm KKR & Co. in a deal valued at $1.4 billion.’
Why Pete Carmichael jumped at the chance to join the Bills and Joe Brady
‘“When I tell you the whole building was in there and I was kind of like, ‘Oh, we were just the opening act for this guy, for this rock star.’ And I’m telling you, I started taking notes, just listening to him talk. You knew early on that this guy was gonna be pretty good.”’
What Jim Leonhard plans to change in the Bills defense in 2026
‘“We’re going to be an attacking defense up front and in the back end,” he said. “We’re going to attack the football. The biggest stat in football is turnovers, so we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to fly around, we’re going to communicate, we’re going to play well together, right? It’s team defense, but we’re going to cause issues for offenses and we’re going to force them to react to us. I don’t want to counterpunch, we want to be a defense that is constantly evolving and growing throughout a game and throughout a season.”’
How a 2018 speech at LSU launched Joe Brady’s career and created the Bills’ new coaching partnership
‘“I was like, ‘Well, we got a young guy,’” Carmichael Jr. said. “And we went down to LSU, I did my little bit with the offensive staff … and then all of a sudden Joe, it was his turn to talk. The whole building was in there. I was like, oh, we were just the opening act for (Brady)–for this rockstar. And I’m telling you, I started taking notes, just listening to him talk. I mean, you knew early on that this guy was gonna be pretty good.”’
Bills DC Leonhard on controversial play: ‘Denver caught it’
‘”It was not [a catch]. We caught it. Denver caught it, that time,” Leonhard said. “I’ll have a different opinion here very soon. Once this season, to me, it’s still the ’25 season. That Super Bowl hasn’t been played yet, so I have to have a little bit of loyalty there, but ask me in another week and I’ll give you a different answer.”‘
Can Joe Brady answer huge Bills question in 2026?
‘But that is what is at the feet of Brady in 2026, so it won’t be a walk in the park, and for NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, what is in front of Brady is rather daunting. “The Bills’ firing of Sean McDermott and promotion of Brady from the offensive coordinator position following yet another playoff stumble by the franchise raises the pressure on Brady to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl during Josh Allen’s peak years,” Edholm wrote.’
Bills’ new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard reveals if he thought Brandin Cooks caught the ball
‘”It wasn’t a catch,” Leonhard told reporters. “We, Denver, caught it… It’s still the 2025 season… Ask me in a week and I’ll have a different answer for you.”‘
Beane always looking into available players Bills could add during offseason
‘”I mean, I think we’re going to take every draft pick this year and make them all receiver.” Beane said to White. “I promise you, if I could get three number one receivers in here, I would do it. I’m always trying to find the best player. No one’s going to run from that. We had the opportunities we talked about at the deadline, we were just looking for good players. I know receiver came up because of the sensitivity of where that talk was surrounded. But obviously, we were chasing a couple of defensive linemen through the deadline as well. Any way that we can help this roster, whether that’s bolstering the defense to get the ball back to Josh [Allen] and crew, whether that’s affecting the quarterback, we’re going to do it.”‘
Brady knows he’s inheriting a strong-cultured Bills team as new head coach
‘”I remember after my first year in Carolina [Panthers], I had six interviews. And I’m looking back now and I’m like, ‘Was I ready to actually do that?’ I’m in such a better headspace now,” said Brady on Wednesday during an appearance with the “Jeremy and Joe Show” on WGR. “There are so many different things that come into play: The trends of the leagues change, we’ve got to make sure we evolve. And I think some of the younger coaches, we don’t know any better besides making sure we’re trying to stay ahead of the curve, or trying to continue to grow, as opposed to, ‘This is just how we’ve done it for a long time.'”‘
Leonhard wants to attack with versatile players who can do a lot of things
‘”Yeah, it is much more fluid than it used to be,” Leonard said on Thursday when I asked him how things have changed on defense over time. “I think the evolution of spread offenses throughout high school, college football, it’s very similar to the NBA where it’s created a little bit more of a position-less type of player. There are unique skillsets all around the NFL where guys don’t quite fit in your traditional box of edge defender, defensive tackle, nickel, safety, and that’s where I’ve had the most success in my career as a coach, was finding those guys that fit in a little bit different role.”‘
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard lays out his vision for defense
‘”The energy you recognize. You see the stadium, and you’re like I know this place. I didn’t know the place across the street, but I’m excited to get in there,” Leonhard said. “That’s when it really hit, you get here and are driving around and are like, I know this place. This isn’t something I have to come in and figure out how to navigate the fanbase and what the city really wants this team to look like.”‘
Pete Carmichael, Joe Brady reunite in Buffalo
‘“I’ll never forget it,” Brady said. “I kind of approached that as a potential interview, not as an interview, but like this is my opportunity to get in front of, you know, some of the great minds of, you know, in our game.”’