The 2026 season is the Buffalo Bills' 57th in the National Football League (NFL), their 67th overall, their 12th full season under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, their tenth under GM Brandon Beane and their first with Joe Brady as head coach. This will be their first season since 2016 without longtime head coach Sean McDermott, as he was fired on January 19, 2026, following their overtime defeat against the Denver Broncos in the 2025-26 Divisional round. The Bills are seeking to improve upon their 12–5 record from the previous season, reclaim the AFC East title, and achieve their eighth straight winning season.
This is the Bills' first season playing their home games at Highmark Stadium, replacing the old previous stadium, also named Highmark Stadium, which is in the process of demolition. Starting with this season, the Canadian national anthem is played before every home game. This marks the first time an NFL team has played any anthem other than the American one in the United States.
Off-season Coaching changes Following their defeat in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott.
On January 27, 2026, the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to be the team's replacement for Sean McDermott. He signed a 5-year deal to become the team's head coach. Brady previously spent the past two full seasons as the Bills' offensive coordinator under McDermott. He took the OC position on an interim basis in November 2023, after being hired as the team's quarterbacks coach in 2022.
Position Name Reason 2026 Replacement Date Ref. Head coach Sean McDermott Fired Joe Brady January 19 Cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae Accepted job with Miami Dolphins Jay Valai January 29 Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich Accepted job with Green Bay Packers Jim Leonhard January 28 Defensive line coach Marcus West Accepted job with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Terrance Jamison January 29 Defensive quality control coach/Offensive advisor Christian Taylor Accepted job with Wyoming Cowboys Craig Robertson December 19 Inside linebackers coachposition created John Egorugwu February 2 Linebackers coach Al Holcomb Accepted job with Las Vegas Raiders position abolished February 18 Nickel cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino Accepted job with Philadelphia Eagles position abolished February 13 Offensive assistantposition created Trace McSorley February 26 Offensive coordinator Joe Brady Promoted to head coach Pete Carmichael Jr. January 27 Outside linebackers coachposition created Bobby April III February 1 Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer Retired Pat Meyer January 18 Quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry Accepted job with Denver Broncos Bo Hardegree February 3 Senior assistantposition created John Fox February 13 Senior defensive assistant Ryan Nielsen Accepted job with Minnesota Vikings Jason Rebrovich January 31 Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor Accepted job with Miami Dolphins Jeff Rodgers January 23 Wide receivers coach Adam Henry Accepted job with Pittsburgh Steelers Drew Terrell January 28
Uniform changes On July 27, 2026, the Bills announced new 'Nickel City' uniforms featuring a "all-gray jersey-pants combination" as "a tribute to the strength, grit and authenticity of Western New York's hard-working people throughout history". The outfit also features a new helmet design resembling the "charging buffalo" team logo. When it was announced, the new uniform received significant negative responses on all social media platforms.
Season summary Regular season Week 1: at Houston Texans
Greg Rousseau had 2 forced fumbles in this game, with Terrel Bernard recovering one of those fumbles with only 9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to secure victory for Buffalo in what was otherwise described as an offensive shootout. With the win, the Bills defeated the Texans on the road for the first time since 2006 and overall since 2021. Additionally, Brady became the fourth coach in Bills history to win their debut as the team's head coach. Tight end Dalton Kincaid had the most receiving yards by a Bills tight end since 1967, with 130 yards in this game.
Recording four touchdowns in this game (two passing and two rushing), Josh Allen became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 300 touchdowns in the regular season, at 129 games. Allen's performance in this game was described as "impressive" and "memorable" by Sports Illustrated, with CBS saying he "delivered in the game's most tense moments" and The Guardian saying "The Bills quarterback produced his usual thrills".
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
With their first win in Highmark Stadium, the Bills begin 1–0 against the NFC North and improved to 2–0 for the third consecutive season. Bills head coach Joe Brady became the first head coach in Bills history to start his coaching career with 2 wins. Greg Rousseau had another standout performance, with multiple sacks in this game. This also marked Buffalo's 7th consecutive win against the Lions since 2006.
Despite experiencing flu-like symptoms before the game, Josh Allen had 5 total touchdowns (three passing and two rushing), 248 yards, and zero interceptions with a performance that The Athletic described as "dominant", "stellar", and "outstanding" and one that made USA Today say Allen is playing "the best he ever has". With this game, Allen became the first player in NFL history with at least five touchdown passes and three touchdown runs through the first two games of the season. He also recorded his fourth career game with three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs, with no other player having more than two such performances.
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
With the win, the Bills start with a 3–0 record for the third consecutive season. They also start 1–0 against the AFC West.
Week 4: vs. New England Patriots
With their second straight home loss to New England, the Bills fell to 3–1.
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams
Schedule and results Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Carolina Panthers W 29–14 1–0 Highmark Stadium Recap 2 at Cleveland Browns W 31–7 2–0 Huntington Bank Field Recap 3 Pittsburgh Steelers W 28–27 3–0 Highmark Stadium Recap
Regular season The Bills' 2026 schedule was released on May 14, 2026.
Week Date Time () Opponent Result Record Venue Network Attendance Recap 1 September 13 1:00p.m. at Houston Texans W 36–31 1–0 Reliant Stadium CBS 71,008 Recap 2 8:15p.m. Detroit Lions W 41–31 2–0 Highmark Stadium Prime Video 60,644 Recap 3 September 27 1:00p.m. Los Angeles Chargers W 24–16 3–0 Highmark Stadium Fox 60,361 Recap 4 October 4 1:00p.m. New England Patriots L 26–29 3–1 Highmark Stadium CBS 60,606 Recap 5 8:15p.m. at Los Angeles Rams SoFi Stadium ESPN/ABC 6 October 18 4:25p.m. at Las Vegas Raiders Allegiant Stadium CBS 7 Bye 8 November 1 1:00p.m. Baltimore Ravens Highmark Stadium CBS 9 8:15p.m. at Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium ESPN/ABC 10 November 15 1:00p.m. at New York Jets MetLife Stadium CBS 11 November 22 1:00p.m. Miami Dolphins Highmark Stadium Fox 12 November 26 8:20p.m. Kansas City Chiefs Highmark Stadium NBC 13 December 6 4:25p.m. at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium CBS 14 December 13 8:20p.m. at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field NBC 15 8:20p.m. Chicago Bears Highmark Stadium CBS 16 December 25 4:30p.m. at Denver Broncos Empower Field at Mile High Netflix 17 January 3 1:00p.m. at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium CBS 18 January 9/10 New York Jets Highmark Stadium Notes Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Networks and times from Weeks 6–17 and dates from Weeks 12–17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling; games in Weeks 9, 12, 15 and 16 are exempt. The date, time and network for Week 18 will be finalized at the end of Week 17.
Standings Divisional standings
Conference standings
Roster changes Arrivals Position Player 2025 team(s) Date signed K Maddux Trujillo Indianapolis Colts January 6, 2026 WR Jalen Virgil Arizona Cardinals February 10, 2026 CB Dee Alford Atlanta Falcons March 12, 2026 QB Kyle Allen Detroit Lions March 12, 2026 LB Bradley Chubb Miami Dolphins March 12, 2026 S C. J. Gardner-Johnson Chicago Bears March 13, 2026 S Geno Stone Cincinnati Bengals March 16, 2026 C/G Austin Corbett Carolina Panthers March 26, 2026 C Lloyd Cushenberry Tennessee Titans March 26, 2026 WR Trent Sherfield Denver Broncos March 26, 2026 FB Ben VanSumeren Philadelphia Eagles April 29, 2026 LB Mike Danna Kansas City Chiefs May 11, 2026 TE Shane Zylstra Detroit Lions May 12, 2026 LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles New York Giants May 27, 2026 WR Mac Dalena Seattle Seahawks June 1, 2026 WR Deven Thompkins Atlanta Falcons June 11, 2026 RB Ian Wheeler Louisville Kings (2026) June 18, 2026 WR Quentin Skinner New York Jets July 14, 2026 WR Dante Pettis New Orleans Saints July 30, 2026 CB D.J. Miller Columbus Aviators (2026) July 31, 2026 LB Otis Reese IV New England Patriots August 6, 2026 CB Anthony Kendall Cleveland Browns August 12, 2026 DL Greg Gaines Tampa Bay Buccaneers August 18, 2026 C Sincere Haynesworth St. Louis Battlehawks (2026) August 26, 2026
Departures Position Player 2026 team Date signed Notes CB/KR Brandon Codrington Houston Texans February 5, 2026 Contracts expired January 26, 2026 DE Matthew Judon — Free Agent DE Shaq Lawson — Free Agent WR Kristian Wilkerson — Free Agent K Matthew Wright — Free Agent CB Dane Jackson — Retired Released March 6, 2026 S Taylor Rapp Denver Broncos August 20, 2026 WR Curtis Samuel — Free Agent DE Joey Bosa — Free Agent Contracts expired March 11, 2026 WR Brandin Cooks — Free Agent WR Gabe Davis — Free Agent G David Edwards New Orleans Saints March 11, 2026 DE A. J. Epenesa Philadelphia Eagles June 10, 2026 FB Reggie Gilliam New England Patriots March 12, 2026 DT DaQuan Jones — Free Agent CB Cam Lewis Chicago Bears March 13, 2026 LB Matt Milano — Free Agent DT Larry Ogunjobi — Free Agent DT Jordan Phillips — Free Agent S Jordan Poyer — Free Agent K Matt Prater — Free Agent S Darnell Savage Pittsburgh Steelers June 2, 2026 LB Baylon Spector Jacksonville Jaguars August 17, 2026 LB Shaq Thompson — Free Agent QB Mitchell Trubisky Tennessee Titans March 12, 2026 CB Tre'Davious White — Free Agent OL Ryan Van Demark Minnesota Vikings March 20, 2026 Restricted Free Agent
Trades Position Arrived From Date of trade Departed WR D. J. Moore 2026 5th-round pick Chicago Bears March 11, 2026 2026 2nd-round pick CB 2026 6th-round pick Las Vegas Raiders March 11, 2026 Taron Johnson 2026 7th-round pick C 2027 6th-round pick Indianapolis Colts August 30, 2026 Sedrick Van Pran-Granger 2027 7th-round pick
Current roster
Draft results
2026 Buffalo Bills draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 26 Traded to the Houston Texans 28 Traded to the New England Patriots From Texans 31 Traded to the Tennessee Titans From Patriots 2 35 T. J. Parker DE Clemson From Titans 60 Traded to the Chicago Bears 62 Davison Igbinosun CB Ohio State From Broncos 3 66 Traded to the Denver Broncos From Titans 69 Traded to the Tennessee Titans From Giants via Texans 91 Traded to the Houston Texans 4 101 Traded to the Las Vegas Raiders From Titans 102 Jude Bowry OT Boston College From Raiders 125 Skyler Bell WR UConn From Bears via Chiefs and Patriots 126 Kaleb Elarms-Orr LB TCU 5 165 Traded to the Tennessee Titans From Bears 167 Jalon Kilgore S South Carolina From Texans via Eagles and Texans 168 Traded to the Detroit Lions 181 Zane Durant DT Penn State From Lions 6 182 Traded to the Denver Broncos From Raiders 208 Traded to the New York Jets 213 Traded to the Chicago Bears From Seahawks via Jaguars and Lions 7 220 Toriano Pride Jr. CB Missouri From Jets 228 Traded to the Las Vegas Raiders From Cowboys 239 Tommy Doman P Florida From Eagles via Jaguars, Browns, and Bears 241 Ar'maj Reed-Adams OG Texas A&M From Bears 242 Traded to the Cleveland Browns
Draft trades