Joe Brady Backs Keon Coleman, Emphasizes Growth Ahead for Young Receiver
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - New Bills head coach Joe Brady isn’t just stepping into his new role - he’s stepping up for one of his young wide receivers. On Thursday, Brady made it clear that he’s all-in on Keon Coleman, offering a strong endorsement of the second-year wideout following recent comments from team owner Terry Pegula that raised questions about Coleman’s standing within the organization.
“The best thing to happen to Keon Coleman was me being his head coach,” Brady said during his introductory press conference. “I was one of the ones who stood on the table for Keon Coleman, and I believe in Keon Coleman.”
That’s not just coach-speak. Brady’s comments came after Pegula noted that it was the coaching staff - not just the front office - that pushed to select Coleman with the first pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Pegula, speaking at the team’s end-of-season press conference, said GM Brandon Beane was “being a team player” by trusting his coaches’ conviction in Coleman.
For Brady, that conviction hasn’t wavered, even after a rocky sophomore campaign for the former Florida State standout.
“Keon is not done being a Buffalo Bill,” Brady said. “We have a vision for him to continue to grow in this offense. I fully believe that.”
That growth is going to be key, because Coleman’s 2025 season didn’t quite match the expectations that followed his high draft selection. He finished the year with 38 catches for 404 yards and four touchdowns - a step back from his rookie numbers, which included 556 yards and the same number of scores. Beyond the stat sheet, Coleman found himself in the doghouse more than once, getting benched twice for tardiness to team meetings and scratched from three late-season games after slipping down the depth chart.
Brady, however, sees the full picture - not just the setbacks.
“It was a learning year for Keon,” he said. “And I know it’s something that not everybody wants to go through, but we had to put the team first in a lot of the elements.
He’s going to continue to grow. The elements that we saw in the draft process, the confidence that I have in him and his ability - as long as he’s handling what he needs to do off the field, I have no doubt that he’s going to be successful on the field.”
That belief isn’t just coming from the head coach. Quarterback Josh Allen also threw his support behind Coleman, making it clear that the young receiver is still very much part of the team’s plans - and his.
“He will come back from that,” Allen said, referencing both Coleman’s struggles and Pegula’s pointed remarks. “I’m not going to give up on zero.
He’s got too much ability and I will not give up on him. We’re gonna work tirelessly, him and me, and so will everybody else in this building to make sure that whenever we step foot on the field, that we’re gonna find ways to win football games.
And he’s gonna be part of that.”
That’s the kind of vote of confidence that matters - not just from a leadership standpoint, but from the guy who’s throwing you the football. Allen and Coleman building chemistry this offseason will be critical if the Bills want to unlock the potential they saw when they made him a top-40 pick.
As for Pegula’s candidness, Brady didn’t flinch.
“Mr. Pegula can literally do whatever Mr.
Pegula wants to do,” Brady said. “The thing that I’ve loved about this is the communication and airing your thoughts and your feelings - that’s what I want.
That’s part of our culture.”
In Buffalo, where expectations remain sky-high and the margin for error is razor thin, there’s no time to dwell on past missteps. For Keon Coleman, the message is clear: the belief is still there - from his coach, from his quarterback, and from the locker room. Now it’s about putting it all together and proving he belongs.
The opportunity is still on the table. The question now is what Coleman does with it.