Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady will see a familiar face from his LSU days in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady is game planning against a familiar face this week.
Brady, who is in his first season as the head coach of the Bills, will lead his team against the Houston Texans in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
One of the Texans' best players is former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.
Stingley, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, played at LSU from 2019 to 2021. He was a true freshman during LSU's memorable championship run in 2019.
Brady, of course, was the Tigers' passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2019. And he knew during spring practice that Stingley, who should've still been in high school at that time, was the real deal.
"I saw Sting when he was a true freshman in the spring when he was supposed to be in high school," said Brady on Wednesday. "And I was like, 'Hey, man, that guy's the best player on the field.' They're (Houston) fortunate — they have multiple corners that are of that caliber. But Sting, I think he has the most interceptions in the league over the last few years when you combine it. He makes incredible plays on the football and he competes. He's as smart as they come. I obviously only had one year with him, but you knew that this was how his career was going to go."
Stingley, who is from Baton Rouge, was named first-team All-SEC as a true freshman at LSU after he recorded six interceptions and 21 passes defensed. So far in the NFL, Stingley has been named First-Team All-Pro twice (2024 and 2025).
Talent like Stingley doesn't come around often. It's no surprise that he stood out to Brady early during LSU's spring practice as a freshman.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Bills head coach Joe Brady makes strong statement about former LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr before facing him in Week 1 of the NFL season
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