The Buffalo Bills have had one of the most hectic weeks in recent memory across the NFL. After suffering a crushing 33-30 overtime defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, the Bills moved quickly to fire head coach Sean McDermott. On Wednesday, owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane held an explosive press conference that caught the attention of everyone, including wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
Perhaps the most noteworthy moment of the aforementioned press conference came when Pegula blamed McDermott for selecting wide receiver Keon Coleman in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Considering how Coleman is still on the Bills’ roster, Pegula’s comments were shocking. In the wake of this development, Cooks spoke out on the incident and came to Coleman’s defense.
Brandin Cooks Defends Keon Coleman After Terry Pegula’s Comments
“At the end of the day, it was a catch. Not just what it looked like but what it felt like.”#Bills WR Brandin Cooks with us on @gmfb to give his perspective on the pivotal INT that knocked Buffalo out of the playoffs and Sean McDermott out of a job. pic.twitter.com/2TuYo96601
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 22, 2026
When Buffalo selected Coleman, it hoped that he would be able to turn himself into a top target for Josh Allen in the passing game. While he’s frequently flashed his potential, Coleman has also been disciplined by the team a handful of times, which led to him being a healthy scratch for several games in 2025.
That was a big reason why the Bills needed to pick up Cooks after he was cut by the New Orleans Saints midway through the season. The veteran speedster was able to quickly get himself on the same page as Allen, but perhaps more importantly, he was also able to emerge as a leader in the wide receiver room and help out some of the younger guys like Coleman.
There’s no doubt that Coleman’s first two seasons with Buffalo have been rocky, but seeing him get put on blast by Pegula was strange. Having been in the league since 2014, Cooks has turned himself into a strong sounding board for Coleman, and he revealed that he’s been in contact with the talented young playmaker in the wake of Pegula’s comments.
“I’m definitely in touch with Keon,” Cooks said on “Good Morning Football.” “When I got to Buffalo, I knew that was gonna be a guy that I gravitated towards to be able to help out. I think Keon can play this game at a high level; I really do. He’s gonna continue to grow. I think he’s also misunderstood. He’s a young kid; he’s still trying to figure it out.”
Bills Appear Set to Move on From Keon Coleman This Offseason
GettyFOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 14: Keon Coleman #0 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Regardless of who pushed for the Bills to draft Coleman, Pegula’s comments seem to indicate that, with McDermott no longer in the picture, that will give the team freedom to move on from the embattled wide receiver. It’s still very early in Coleman’s career, but it will likely be tough for him to come back to the team after getting belittled by Pegula publicly.
What the future holds for Coleman is unknown. The first order of business in Buffalo involves finding a new head coach, but that may become a bit more difficult after Pegula’s public outburst. It’s certainly an odd situation, but Cooks knows what Coleman is capable of. If he can continue to work with the veteran wide receiver, he could finally realize his potential, even if he doesn’t stick around with the Bills.