Bills hire Pete Carmichael Jr. as offensive coordinator

The Buffalo Bills officially named Pete Carmichael Jr. as their new offensive coordinator on Saturday.

Carmichael replaces Joe Brady, who was elevated to head coach this week to succeed Sean McDermott.

A longtime lieutenant for Broncos coach Sean Payton, Carmichael has served as a senior offensive assistant with Denver for the past two seasons. He was the New Orleans Saints' offensive coordinator from 2009-23, including the team that won Super Bowl XLIV.

Brady overlapped with Carmichael for two seasons in New Orleans on Payton's staff in 2017 and 2018. Brady was working as an offensive assistant in his first NFL job.

Carmichael, 54, is a 32-year coaching veteran with 26 years of NFL experience.

He began his NFL coaching career in 2000 as a tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns. He spent one season in Washington as an offensive assistant in 2001 and four seasons (2002-05) with the then-San Diego Chargers as an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach. He joined the Saints as a quarterbacks coach in 2006 before being promoted to OC in 2009.

The Bills also are reportedly poaching their new defensive coordinator from the Broncos. Multiple outlets reported Saturday that Buffalo is hiring Denver assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard.