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Rookie WR Keon Coleman Wants The Bills To Bench Him For The Rest Of The Season And Give His Opportunities To A Veteran After His Own Decline In Performance

Buffalo, New York. The Buffalo Bills entered the 2025 season believing rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman could grow into a valuable complementary piece. For the first three to four weeks, the flashes were there. His size and contested-catch ability offered promise, and he looked like a young receiver slowly finding his place.

But as the season progressed, Coleman’s performance trended sharply downward. His separation against man coverage became inconsistent. His timing with Josh Allen stalled. Coaches noted repeated issues in route discipline and assignment accuracy. The decline came to a head in Week 11 when, according to Reuters, Coleman was made inactive after arriving late to the pre-game meeting. Inside the organization, the move was viewed as a necessary disciplinary standard.

Meanwhile, veteran wideout Khalil Shakir has been one of Buffalo’s most reliable offensive players all season. His route precision, toughness after the catch and ability to consistently execute have made him a trusted target for Josh Allen. Shakir has been the steady force in a receiver room that has needed exactly that.

And it is Shakir’s excellence that led to the moment that surprised many in Western New York. According to team sources, Coleman personally approached the Bills coaching staff this week and asked that Shakir receive the majority of the snaps for the remainder of the season. Coleman believes Shakir has earned the workload through performance, while his own struggles require accountability rather than excuses.

When speaking to reporters, Coleman delivered a candid message. “I’m not running from what’s happened. I owe it to the Bills to be better. I owe it to myself. This team believed in me from Day 1, and I’m not letting one rough stretch define who I am or what I can become here.”

Coaches inside the Bills facility have praised Shakir all season for his consistency and professionalism. They have also acknowledged Coleman’s willingness to take responsibility as a rare trait for a young player facing adversity. Still, Buffalo needs stability as the playoff race intensifies, and Shakir’s performance has made him one of the most trusted players on the roster.

This shift comes at a crucial point in the year. Coleman was drafted with long-term potential, but his midseason regression forces the Bills to prioritize reliability over projection. Shakir has been that reliability. Coleman recognizes it. And the team is expected to lean even heavier on the veteran in the coming weeks.

If Coleman can turn this accountability into growth, this chapter may become a defining moment in his development. But for now, he is choosing to step back so that the teammate who has earned the role can step forward.

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Firefighter Passed Away in the Line of Duty Protecting the City of San Francisco — As 49ers Faithful Welcome the New Year, One Hero Is Left Behind in 2025
Jan 1, 2026 Share this article:Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on WhatsAppCopy link San Francisco, California – As downtown streets began to glow with New Year’s lights and countdowns echoed across the Bay Area, San Francisco suddenly slowed into a moment of silence. Not because of fog. Not because of a game or a celebration put on hold. The city paused because one quiet question began spreading from neighborhood to neighborhood: Who didn’t make it into the new year with us? That question now has a name. Danny Cook. He wasn’t a star athlete. He never appeared on scoreboards or national television. But in the moments when danger forced everyone else to step back, Cook stepped forward. A San Francisco firefighter, Cook passed away while on duty, leaving behind a city — and 49ers Faithful — struggling to reconcile celebration with loss, joy with gratitude, and hope with grief. Forward progress stopped on the #DannyFire northwest of #Lancaster. Fire burned more than 1,500 acres and a barn but crews kept it from spreading to a nearby house. Helicopters including @CoulsonAviation helitankers, LA County and @LAFD air units were also on scene. @kcalnews pic.twitter.com/Pl1aHpHkrK — John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) June 5, 2023 According to officials, Danny Cook suffered a severe medical emergency while responding to an emergency call. His fellow firefighters immediately initiated life-saving measures at the scene, working against the clock before he was transported to a nearby hospital. Despite exhaustive efforts by fire and medical personnel, Cook passed away during his shift — in service, bound by the oath he lived by. For the San Francisco Fire Department, this was not simply a line-of-duty passing. It was the loss of a brother. A firefighter trusted with lives in the most unforgiving moments. A steady presence when chaos threatened to overwhelm. In this profession, there are no spotlights and no applause — only discipline, courage, and an unspoken promise to protect others at any cost. That loss rippled quickly across the city. From quiet residential streets to the heart of downtown, San Francisco was reminded of a difficult truth: the safety it enjoys every day is sometimes purchased through silent sacrifice. As families prepared to raise a glass to welcome 2026, one family crossed into the new year with an empty chair — and an entire city aware of the debt it owes. A representative of the San Francisco 49ers shared a message of remembrance on behalf of the organization and the community: “San Francisco stands united with the family, friends, and fellow firefighters of Danny Cook. He represents the very best of this city — toughness, selflessness, and a willingness to protect others at all costs. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.” In sports, we often talk about moments that change games. But some people don’t change scoreboards — they change lives. Danny Cook never sought recognition, yet leaves behind a legacy measured in service, courage, and selflessness. His bravery didn’t need an audience to matter. San Francisco will move forward.The city will celebrate, rebuild, and hope again. But 2025 will forever be the year Danny Cook stayed behind — woven permanently into the soul of the city he gave everything to protect.