Tensions in Buffalo: Pegula’s Comments Put Keon Coleman in the Crosshairs
The Buffalo Bills are no strangers to offseason drama, but this time, the noise isn’t coming from the locker room or the coaching carousel - it’s coming from the top. Owner Terry Pegula, speaking publicly for the first time since parting ways with head coach Sean McDermott, made waves by pointing a finger at wide receiver Keon Coleman, a young player still very much on the roster.
"Their owner is just throwing a young player who does have immense talent ... under the bus like that. Why are we doing this?"
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 21, 2026
—@FieldYates on Bills owner Terry Pegula saying it was the coaches decision to draft Keon Coleman 😳 pic.twitter.com/WU5FY47GP1
Pegula’s comments weren’t just a passing remark. He made it clear that McDermott had strongly advocated for Coleman during the draft process - a move that, in hindsight, Pegula seemed to frame as a misstep. That kind of public callout, especially directed at a second-year receiver still developing in the league, raised eyebrows across the NFL landscape.
ESPN’s Field Yates didn’t hold back in his response, offering a pointed critique of Pegula’s decision to go public with internal frustrations. On NFL Live, Yates broke it down plainly: “This is when it became the blame game,” he said.
“The coaching is the reason why we haven’t reached the heights we should have by now. And one of the biggest flaws on the roster?
The lack of a difference-making wide receiver.”
That context matters. The Bills used a high second-round pick on Coleman, banking on his size, athleticism, and upside to help fill the void left by the departure of veteran playmakers.
But like many rookie receivers, Coleman has had growing pains. That’s not uncommon.
What is uncommon is an owner publicly singling out a young player still under contract - and in doing so, potentially fracturing trust within the locker room.
Yates also pointed out the ripple effect of Pegula’s comments. Not only did it reflect poorly on McDermott, who’s no longer with the team, but it also put general manager Brandon Beane in a tough spot.
“It sort of undercuts him,” Yates said. “Brandon, I thought, did a nice save.
He handled some difficult circumstances pretty well.”
And that’s the thing - Beane now has to navigate a delicate situation. Coleman remains under contract, and any potential roster move involving him can’t happen until the new league year kicks off in early March.
That’s still weeks away. Until then, he’s a Buffalo Bill, and Pegula’s comments have made that reality a little more complicated.
Inside the locker room, this kind of public criticism can land hard. NFL players know the business side of the game, but they also value loyalty and support from leadership. When an owner calls out a young player - especially one who was widely viewed as a developmental prospect - it sends a message, and not necessarily a good one.
“Is there a likely long-term future for Keon Coleman in Buffalo? Probably not,” Yates added.
“But right now, he’s still part of that team. And I can’t imagine there are many Bills players excited to hear their owner throw a young guy with real talent under the bus like that.”
Coleman was the team’s first pick in the second round just two years ago. That’s not ancient history.
He’s still early in his NFL journey, and while the production may not have matched the expectations just yet, the potential is still there. These are the moments when organizations have to decide whether they’re going to build around their young talent - or bail on them too soon.
So what’s next for Coleman? That’s the million-dollar question.
The Bills have some big decisions to make this offseason, and Coleman’s future is now one of them. But one thing’s for sure - if he does stick around, his next meeting with Pegula is going to be awkward at best.
For now, all eyes are on Buffalo, where the offseason is already heating up - and not for the reasons fans were hoping.