Play-caller
- Calls plays: Joe Brady (HC) — confirmed. Brady stated from day one he remains the play-caller; OC Pete Carmichael Jr. preps as the emergency caller (Buffalo News / twobillsdrive.com, 2026-02-07; buffalobills.com).
- Tenure with team: 5th season (WR coach 2022–23, interim OC from Nov 2023, OC 2024–25, HC 2026). Prior relationship with QB1: has called Josh Allen's plays since Nov 2023.
Last play-calling stops (BUF 2023–25 is one continuous stop, split by season; all rates computed from nflverse pbp + FTN charting via nflreadpy, 2026-07-07):
| Stop (team, yrs) | PROE | Neutral pass% | Sec/play (neutral) | Motion% | PA% | 11 / 12 / 21% | Condensed% | RB tgt share | WR1 TS | Inside-10 pass% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF 2025 (OC) | −3.5% | 51.2% | 33.3 (raw-clock, see note) | 60.3% | 24.7% | 52 / 10 / 11 (+11% 22-pers) | UNVERIFIED | 18.0% | 19.8% (Shakir) | 42.7% |
| BUF 2024 (OC) | −2.0% | 54.1% | UNVERIFIED | 51.1% | 18.2% | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | 20.2% (Shakir) | 38.1% |
| BUF 2023 wks 11–18 (interim OC) | −4.4% | 53.1% | UNVERIFIED | 48.2% | 20.1% | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | 26.3% |
| CAR 2020 (OC) | +1.1% | 56.8% | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED (pre-FTN) | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | UNVERIFIED | 25.9% (R. Anderson; DJ Moore 22.3%) | 38.5% |
Pace note: the 33.3 s/play is a raw drive-internal clock delta computed from pbp (includes stoppages) — not comparable to the ≤27.5/29.5 situation-neutral bands; the situation-neutral pace rank is UNVERIFIED. Volume is better read from plays/game: 65.1 pass+rush plays/gm in 2025 (data/stats/2025/pbp_summary.csv), up from 59.1 in 2024 (computed from nflverse pbp).
Read: Brady is a run-tilted (PROE ≈ −2 to −4%), high-motion (60% in 2025), spread-the-ball caller — no fed alpha since CAR 2020: Shakir has led BUF at only ~20% TS two straight years, with RB targets in the healthy 15–22% band. Personnel is unusually heavy (52% 11, ~22% combined 21/22) — WR3 snaps are capped and TE/FB routes live. The offense wins on efficiency (+0.140 EPA/play, best-in-class 2025, pbp_summary.csv) rather than dropback volume; DJ Moore's arrival adds the first true perimeter target claim of the Brady era, but his history says don't project a 26%+ target share for anyone.
Scheme family
- Run scheme: mixed zone/gap with heavy multi-back and multi-TE sets (21+22 personnel ≈ 22% of snaps, 2025 participation charting) plus the QB short-yardage package. RB fits: one-cut backs with receiving chops (Cook is the scheme); goal-line work splits between Cook and Allen sneak/power.
- Pass-game family: spread/west-coast hybrid (Brady: LSU/Saints tree; Carmichael is a Payton–Saints west-coast lifer) — high motion (60.3%), moderate-high PA (24.7%), quick timing, YAC- and slot-friendly. Implications: slot/option-route profiles (Shakir) and RB/TE outlet volume are structurally supported; low 11-personnel rate (52%) kills WR3/WR4 fantasy viability; mid aDOT overall with Allen's off-script deep shots layered on top.
