ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Joe Brady just pulled another sharp mind out of the college ranks. Former NFL quarterback Trace McSorley is officially joining the Buffalo Bills coaching staff as an offensive assistant.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and 247Sports’ Daniel Gallen first broke the news on Thursday. McSorley leaves his post at Penn State to return to the pro level, cementing a rapid rise in the coaching world. The 30-year-old spent 2025 as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Nittany Lions. He survived the recent coaching change in Happy Valley, initially staying on under new head coach Matt Campbell. Buffalo simply offered an opportunity he could not refuse.
A Happy Valley Reunion in Orchard Park
McSorley and Brady share deep roots. Brady served as an offensive graduate assistant at Penn State during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In 2016, McSorley grabbed the starting job, ignited the offense, and led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten championship. The two know exactly how the other operates.
Some early chatter online labeled McSorley a “former Steelers quarterback.” Let’s clear the air. He wore a Pittsburgh practice squad jersey for a blink in 2023. He actually cut his teeth with the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He backed up Lamar Jackson before spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, logging over 500 passing yards and serving as Kyler Murray’s backup through 2022.
McSorley’s journey from a scrappy, undersized late-round draft pick to an NFL coaching room is a classic underdog story. It fits perfectly in a blue-collar town like Buffalo. You can almost feel the collective nod of approval from Bills Mafia; they appreciate a grinder.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play here. Being in the same room with him has been awesome, the knowledge that he’s able to bring… Just to have that experience and a guy who has played here in the past in the room is something that I’m looking forward to.”
— Rocco Becht, Penn State Quarterback (on McSorley’s coaching impact)
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Buffalo’s front office clearly wants fresh eyes on the playbook. By pulling a young coach straight from the college gridiron, Brady injects modern RPO concepts and fresh spread-offense ideas into the system.
Josh Allen remains the engine of this franchise. However, Allen takes massive hits and improvises constantly. McSorley knows what elite, dual-threat quarterbacking looks like from the inside out. His primary job involves translating Brady’s offensive vision into daily drill work that protects the quarterback while maximizing his raw arm talent.
The Bills expect a deep playoff run in 2026. The AFC East continues to reload, and Buffalo refuses to stay stagnant. Adding a gritty former player like McSorley to the staff ensures the offensive meeting rooms stay energized and locked in as they chase a Super Bowl ring. The chilly winds off Lake Erie won’t deter a staff that is clearly building something explosive.
