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It has been a big year for standout wide receiver Khalil Shakir, as he not only signed a huge $60 million contract extension with the Buffalo Bills, but he and his wife also welcomed their first baby.
However, don’t expect him to be making the same claims as former NFL Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr., who recently described how hard it would be to make a five-year, $100 million contract last.
Several people, from fellow athlete Carmelo Anthony to Mike Epps, have weighed in on the matter. Now, Shakir, who is a new dad, has his thoughts. He has always been smart with money. Not cheap, but perhaps frugal. That should bode well for his post-playing career.
“I always ask [myself], ‘What is the lifestyle that you wanna live down the road? What is the lifestyle that I want for my family down the road?'” he pondered. “I have a newborn, so [I’m always] thinking about her and my wife and how I want things to look 10 years from now. A lot of times, it’s important not to be impulsive.”
He knows it’s often easier said than done, especially as someone who signed a life-changing contract extension.
“I think a lot of times you do get pressured, as a young athlete, into making flashy purchases and maybe not being smart with financial decisions,” Shakir conceded.
However, if you ask yourself the questions Shakir asks himself before making “impulsive” purchases or decisions, you’ll “find your answer.”
Currently, Shakir is partnering with Kelley Blue Book, and he’s hoping to bring some financial guidance to others. Kelley Blue Book helps Shakir do research to influence his decisions.
“The way I live my life just aligns perfectly with everything that they have going on,” he said of Kelley Blue Book. “It’s a blessing, to be honest.”
On Feb. 25, 2025, Shakir and the Bills came to an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth $60.2 million with $32 million guaranteed, and he will receive $18 million in the first year.
Almost 10 months later, it’s “surreal” to Shakir. It’s every aspiring football player’s dream to make it to the big leagues and sign a second contract. Many try, only a select few succeed.
“[Signing a contract extension] is something that I [have] dreamed about,” Shakir said. “I started playing football when I was seven years old. You start playing ball, and you’re like, Man, I want to make it to the pros. But the [odds] of making it and then signing a second contract are against you.
“So when it actually happened, that whole day just felt like a dream. You kind of black out in a sense, and [are] like, This is really going on right now,” he added.
Ultimately, he is just “thankful” for the Bills. They have believed in the fifth-round pick since drafting him in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Boise State. So far,...
