Joe Brady wants to stay in NFL

After receiving interest for head-coaching jobs just after the 2020-21 NFL season ended, former Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady is not quite ready to return to the college coaching ranks. Despite some reports linking Brady to the University of Miami as a potential offensive coordinator on new head coach Mario Cristobal’s staff, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Brady has heard from multiple NFL teams and the expectation is that he will stay in the league next season.

Brady found success in college football in his lone season at LSU as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. Brady and then-LSU quarterback Joe Burrow were two individuals highly regarded as contributors to the school’s 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. The success quickly vaulted Brady into coaching opportunities as three days after the championship win, Brady accepted the offensive coordinator job under incoming Panthers head coach Matt Rhule.

In Brady’s first season as the lone offensive play caller, Carolina’s offense ranked 24th in the NFL in scoring and 21st in yards, utilizing Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and leaning on Mike Davis at running back with star Christian McCaffrey sidelined for all but three games. Through 13 weeks of the 2021 NFL season, the Panthers’ offense ranked 24th in points per game and 29th in yards per game. Carolina has struggled to find consistency at quarterback with trade acquisition Sam Darnold failing to take a firm hold of the offense and Cam Newton not providing the desired boost after signing with his former team in November. The running game has still seen McCaffrey miss time and has turned to rookie fourth-round pick Chuba Hubbard in his absence.

Rhule didn’t specify any reasons for firing Brady, only claiming it was best for the team moving forward, so it’s understandable that some NFL teams still see potential in hiring the young offensive mind. College football jobs have been filling quickly since the end of their regular season, so Brady’s focus on the NFL indicates he probably has some pretty strong leads on a new job.