As speculation continues to swirl over who will replace James Franklin as Penn State football’s 17th head coach, a new frontrunner has emerged in the coaching search.
According to BetOnline, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady has overtaken Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule as the betting favorite for the job.
As of this writing, Brady sits atop the odds board at +150, followed by Rhule at +200, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown at +500, and Indiana’s Curt Cignetti at +700.
Covers Betting Analyst Chris Vasile described Brady’s candidacy as an intriguing fit:
“Joe Brady has quietly made a name for himself over the last handful of years as a great offensive mind. He’s had the Buffalo Bills’ offense humming (last two games notwithstanding), and he could be the right kind of offensive mind needed at Penn State. After all, he had his hand in LSU’s high-octane 2019 offense led by Joe Burrow. Whether or not Brady has the urge to ditch the pro ranks for his shot at running the show in college remains to be seen.”
For now, these are just rumors and speculation — but if Penn State wants to make a bold, headline-grabbing hire, Brady would certainly qualify.
The Brady Dossier
Brady began his coaching career as a linebackers coach at William & Mary, spending two seasons there before moving to Penn State as a graduate assistant under then–offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.
During his time in Happy Valley, Brady learned Moorhead’s aggressive passing philosophy — stretching the field vertically and exploiting mismatches in coverage — traits that would later define his own offensive identity.
Brady’s next stop was the New Orleans Saints, where he served under Sean Payton, who Brady often credits for shaping his offensive mind.
“(Payton) just taught me so much,” Brady told CBS Sports. “When we look at football, it’s not just about what coverages we want to attack — it’s about who in that coverage we want to attack, with our strengths, and how we find their weaknesses.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I wouldn’t be sitting here without Sean Payton.”
Payton, for his part, wasn’t thrilled to see Brady leave the Saints to become passing game coordinator at LSU in 2019.
“The last thing I told (Brady) was that he was making a mistake,” Payton joked before LSU’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Oklahoma. “So much for what I know.”
Brady’s single season at LSU produced arguably the most explosive offense in college football history. The 2019 Tigers averaged 48.4 points per game and became the first team in NCAA history to feature a 5,000-yard passer (Joe Burrow), 1,000-yard rusher (Clyde Edwards-Helaire), and two 1,000-yard receivers (Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase).
For his efforts, Brady won the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
The NFL soon came calling. In 2020, Brady joined Matt Rhule’s staff with the Carolina Panthers, but the partnership never fully clicked. After his stint in Charlotte, Brady landed with the Bills in 2022 as quarterbacks coach, eventually being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023.
Since then, Brady has helped elevate Josh Allen into perennial MVP form, guiding an offense that has consistently ranked among the NFL’s best. Under Brady, Allen has posted back-to-back seasons with 40 or more total touchdowns and remains one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
Bottom Line
Whether Brady would leave the NFL for a return to college football remains uncertain. But his combination of professional experience, offensive innovation, and Penn State ties make him an undeniably compelling candidate.
If Penn State wants to end this coaching search with a splash hire and ignite excitement across the fanbase, Joe Brady would do just that.
