If you were looking for a poster boy for the Generation Z athlete, rookie Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman might be your guy. The free-spirited 21-year-old from Opelousas, Louisiana, goes viral for his hilarious press conference soundbites and fills up highlight reels with his dazzling catches. In fact, Coleman is so prolific on the football field that, even though he’s missed four games with a wrist injury this season, he’s still second on the AFC East champion Bills in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
But if we’re talking about a Gen Z spokesperson, he’s got to be on his social media game. Coleman, who has more than 600,000 Instagram followers and several TikToks with over a million views, fancies himself as a bit of a travel influencer as well. In fact, the burgeoning explorer recently teamed with Booking.com’s Genius Loyalty Program for a Niagara Falls escape. After he dried off from that trip, Coleman talked to us about the perk-filled online travel process, the grueling NFL schedule and must-try restaurants in Buffalo.
On off nights, do you watch other football games on TV?
Yeah, my dog DeVonta Smith [is playing tonight with the Philadelphia Eagles]. I gotta watch it. I gotta see what he’s gonna do out there. I feel like it’s going to be a good football game.
Let’s say a Buffalo Bills fan is planning a road trip to come see you play. How does the Booking.com Genius Loyalty Program help them?
It gives them great rates and discounts on rentals, hotels, pretty much everything you would need. It has it all for you, like I said in the [TikTok] video, except ponchos. I think that was pretty funny. But everything else, they got you covered. Get you the best hotel rooms with the best view. Get you something closer to the to the stadium to make it convenient for you. Make sure you get a good rental that can host all the people you have with you. I think it’s a very good program to have.
Was that your first time at Niagara Falls?
I’ve been before. I just didn’t go on the boats. I was too tired. That was too much. I just came and looked. That was all. I was like, “This is what I came here for, to look at the water? All right.” And I just left. But the water, like getting in the boat, was fun. I’d do it again.
During the season, you can travel from Buffalo to L.A. to Detroit and back home again. What are a few things that are always in your carry-on bag?
Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, cologne and my jewelry.
What cologne are you wearing right now?
I mix a few things. For a base, I like Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million. I like to buy Yves Saint Laurent and Carolina Herrera in the lightning bolt-shaped bottle. I got some secret rub-on [scents, too]. There ain’t no labels on them, but I know what they smell like.
What’s the perfect Keon Coleman outfit on a travel day?
A hoodie, a beanie, some sweats and probably some slippers.
Keeping it real simple.
Yeah, that’s me all day. I’m not too big into the fashion. I gotta ride comfortable.
Outside of the New York and L.A., give me a couple of NFL cities where the food is really good.
Louisiana. Not New Orleans, though. Their food is not messin’ with the food that I’m talking about. But, for me on away games, I’m gonna hit up Popeyes or Subway for the plane. When I land, I just find something convenient, maybe a little steakhouse. Give me some steak or some pasta.
Oh, [I forgot about] Houston! Houston, Houston, Houston. When you’re there, you gotta hit up Lost & Found. You gotta get that pasta, man. That Cajun pasta with the chicken, sausage and the shrimp. And add the crab legs.
Let’s go back to Louisiana. You said no to New Orleans food? Where should I go for good Louisiana food?
You have to go to the 337 [area code]. You got Lake Charles, Lafayette, Opelousas, Carencro — that whole area. Three. Three. Seven. New Orleans got all that fancy, extra stuff. If you wanna go ahead and try that [that’s fine], but I’m not the biggest fan of it.
Now, if we’re talking Buffalo, give me some must-try restaurants and attractions.
For one, you got to check out a Bills game. Or you can go show love to the [NHL Buffalo] Sabres. If you want some wings, you can hit a Bar-Bill. If you want some [elevated] food, Buffalo Chophouse. Some nice food in there. They have a few different restaurants [in Buffalo], but I’m not much of an eat-out type of guy. Oh, but one more: Swan Street Diner.
I’m assuming it’s a traditional diner.
Yes, the best pancakes I ever had. I’m a breakfast guy. I can eat breakfast three times a day.
I know you’re nursing an injury right now, but you all also have a bye week soon. Will you use that time to travel any or are you focused on rehabbing?
Yeah, I’m going straight to Houston to see my doctor to get my body right. I’ll get a few workouts in, and then, take a few days [to rest] and then come back to Buffalo. I’ll probably go to Puerto Rico. Stay within the first two time zones [of Buffalo]. I wouldn’t go all the way to the West Coast. Hawaii was the thought, but that’s way too out of the way. So, I’ll probably go like Puerto Rico or Florida and just chill. Put my feet in the sand and just relax.
You all are sitting atop the AFC East. Tell me a few things about the team that has impressed you the most.
We have a plethora of different guys that can make plays at pivotal points of the game. Just get the ball in their hands and watch the magic happen. Everybody’s going to give effort, block, do their job and make sure the team can eat. I think the unselfishness of our team [is special]. When our numbers are called, we make the plays. We have a very dominant offensive line and dominant defense. We’re able to pretty much do whatever we want to do out there on the field.
How would say that you’ve performed so far?
It’s been pretty smooth. I’ve been stepping up, for the most part, when my number’s been called, making the plays and just trying to help contribute to as many wins as I can. Whenever the ball touches my hands, I’m making the right play, protecting the ball and trying to go score.
Of course, the goal is for the team to make it to New Orleans for the Super Bowl in February. But in the event you don’t, do you still plan to attend the festivities in the city?
I don’t go to New Orleans for fun, but I don’t know. It depends on how it happens. If we lose in the AFC Championship, no, no, no, no. Can’t do it. I’m not the biggest fan of New Orleans. There would just be too many people.
