Steve Smith Sr questions whether Keon Coleman’s elite receiver ability

Former wide receiver and current NFL analyst Steve Smith Sr. harshly criticized Buffalo Bills second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman.

During the last edition of the magazine “89 with Steve Smith Sr.” He offered a scathing critique of former Carolina Panthers star Coleman on his podcast.

Smith’s comments focused on Coleman’s decline in production this season and his apparent failure to “separate” from defenders.

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“Well, short version: nothing,” Smith said. “I haven’t seen anything from him because the opportunities haven’t been there, because the opportunities don’t come naturally. He can’t get open fast enough. Now, Josh Allen is looking his way… When he gets press coverage, Josh is looking there, but Josh gives up on him very quickly. And some people, like them, jump into the comments and say, ‘Well, he was open on this play, but Josh got rid of him.’ That means it’s taking too long. It means the quarterback doesn’t have confidence in your ability to get there.”

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Coleman was targeted 57 times in 13 games played during the 2024 season and finished the year with 556 receiving yards. He has 267 receiving yards on 27 targets so far in 2025. Smith and co-host James Palmer noted the decline in passes thrown to Coleman since Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Coleman had eight receptions in the first game of the season but completed just 19 passes in the following weeks.

Buffalo Bills winger Keon Coleman (0) reacts after taking a first down near New York Jets linebacker Leki Fotu (R) and cornerback Brandin Echols during an NFL football game on October 14, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Man Hunger)

Coleman had eight receptions in the first game of the season but completed just 19 passes in the following weeks. Coleman was listed at 6 feet 4 inches during his NFL career, while Smith was listed at 5 feet 9 inches throughout his NFL career. Despite the height difference, Smith made it clear that he remains firm in his doubts that Coleman could be the Bills’ best option in the passing game.

“And you remember, I get accused of people who are over 6 feet tall saying, ‘Oh, Steve, you’re jealous,'” Smith continued. “Man, he got four of the 12 targets discussed. That’s less than 30 cents. Five sticks of gum are 35 cents right now… When you get bad breath, these five sticks of gum can help you, cure you, and increase your odds of not leaving the club alone, and he doesn’t stand a chance.”

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) runs onto the field before the game at Bank of America Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)

“He doesn’t have the talent and is not a true No. 1 player,” Smith said. “He ain’t that guy. He can’t leave. He can’t get out of a jam. He ain’t got it. You can’t teach a dog to bark. You either get it or you don’t.”

Coleman appeared to catch wind of Smith’s words, but downplayed the harsh assessment by posting four smiley face emojis to X.

The Bills have a perfect 4-0 record in 2025 in games where Coleman has at least 25 receiving yards.

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After losing games to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons in consecutive weeks, the Bills got back on the winning track with a blowout victory in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of the last AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

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