Bills round out 2026 staff: Leonhard, Carmichael, Rodgers in; promotions headline Joe Brady’s build
The Buffalo Bills continued shaping their 2026 coaching staff, locking in a blend of returning assistants and fresh voices under head coach Joe Brady. As of Feb. 13 (ET), the group features coordinators Pete Carmichael on offense, Jim Leonhard on defense, and Jeff Rodgers on special teams, along with a wave of internal promotions that underscore Brady’s emphasis on teachers and continuity.
Offense leans on continuity with Carmichael at the controls
Brady’s first major addition on offense is offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, a veteran play designer now paired with a familiar core. The Bills are keeping several key assistants, including running backs coach Kelly Skipper, passing game specialist Marc Lubick, offensive line coach Pat Meyer, and assistant offensive line coach Austin Gund. Drew Terrell oversees the wide receivers, while D. J. Mangas shifts to a full-time role as assistant wide receivers coach.
Multiple internal lifts point to stability around quarterback Josh Allen. Shurmur moves into the assistant quarterbacks coach chair after contributing across offensive quality control roles. Production under this offensive infrastructure has been robust in recent seasons, with Buffalo averaging 28. 3 points per game and 376. 3 total yards per game in 2025, while finishing top-three in red-zone touchdown rate. Those outputs set a high bar for Carmichael as he takes on full-field orchestration.
Boras takes run game coordinator title; tight ends remain a strength
Rob Boras adds run game coordinator to his tight ends duties, a nod to consistent returns from the position group. Dawson Knox set a franchise mark for touchdown receptions by a tight end with nine in 2021, Dalton Kincaid logged a record 73 catches for a Bills tight end in 2023, and rookie Jackson Hawes emerged as a vital blocker in 2025. Boras’ expanded brief signals a targeted push to marry the tight end room’s versatility with a more defined ground identity in 2026.
Leonhard’s defense resets the room, with the secondary in focus
On defense, Jim Leonhard headlines a revamped structure that pairs fresh hires with elevated incumbents. The Bills added Terrance Jamison to lead the defensive line, Bobby April III to coach outside linebackers, John Eguwogru on inside linebackers, and Jay Valai with the cornerbacks. Danna, who previously led the safeties, is promoted to secondary coach following three seasons that emphasized ball production and pass efficiency. That stretch featured 17 interceptions and 27 takeaways in 2023, seven players with at least two interceptions in 2024, and the league’s best pass defense in 2025 at 156. 9 passing yards allowed per game. From Weeks 6–18 last season, Christian Benford and Tre’Davious White posted the lowest completion rates allowed on the roster, at 40. 7% and 32. 1%, respectively.
Along the front, Jason Rebrovich ascends to senior defensive assistant after serving as assistant defensive line coach in 2025. That line produced 36 sacks last year and saw defensive end Joey Bosa finish with an NFL-best five forced fumbles, underscoring the unit’s disruptive ceiling as Leonhard aligns scheme with personnel.
Special teams retooled with Rodgers
Brady’s overhaul extends to the third phase with Jeff Rodgers taking over as special teams coordinator. The appointment brings a new voice to the kicking and return units while maintaining continuity through returning assistant coordinator Turner West. With Rodgers in place, the Bills aim to stabilize field position and create hidden-yardage wins that can swing close games.
Promotions spotlight Brady’s “teachers” ethos
The staff’s throughline is development. Boras’ run game remit, Danna’s elevation to the entire secondary, Rebrovich’s broader defensive influence, Shurmur’s move into the quarterback room, and Mangas focusing solely on wideouts all point to a structure built to refine details. That approach dovetails with past production across both sides of the ball and sets up clearly defined lanes of accountability as offseason installations begin.
Where things stand — and what’s not on the docket
With 20 assistants in place as of Feb. 13 (ET), Buffalo’s staff is largely set, though late-cycle tweaks are always possible. Notably for fans tracking every potential reunion, there is no role listed for john fox in the team’s current setup. The priority instead has been a balanced blend of fresh specialists and familiar hands who have already contributed to league-leading stretches in scoring and pass defense. The next step is translating that framework into spring and summer cohesion, with Carmichael, Leonhard, and Rodgers embedding their systems while position coaches and newly promoted assistants drive day-to-day instruction.
