Khalil Shakir, the WR for the Buffalo Bills is etching his name in the NFL! And, as it goes, no one is as proud of him as his parents. Transitioning from college football at Boise State, to making a mark with Bills’ offense team, his family’s influence is quite evident. Be it his father’s military discipline, or his mom’s sagacious advice, everything has molded Khalil into the professional he is today.

Who is Khalil Shakir’s father, Attiyah?

Khalil’s father, Attiyah Shakir, has held a reputable position as a former master sergeant in the U.S. Marines. It taught one major trait to Khalil, to be strictly disciplined about his work and demeanor. However, due to his father’s military service, he had to move around frequently. His father served in various locations, including, Hawaii and Japan. But, when his son was in 6th grade, they finally settled in Southern California.

Attiyah, since the start, paid a keen attention to his son’s football capabilities. When he was playing catch with his son, he noted, “By the time he was 6 or 7, he was catching it, and I was like, ‘Whoa, you’re pretty good at catching the ball, buddy.’” He made it a point to hone his son’s skills, not only by encouraging him, but when needed, he also gave Khalil the required constructive criticism.

Providing his son with the post-game feedback, he ruthlessly shares his observations with him. Khalil even remarked, “My dad is not afraid to say some words to me, shoot me a text. I know when I’m in the game and (there’s) something I should have done better, I already know I’ve got a text from him waiting for me.” But, despite everything, he supports his son relentlessly.

Committed to his continuous improvement, his father notes, “I kind of pay attention to what’s going on and just let him know. We’re here to support him and we love him, mostly—but yeah, he does get a bit more from me.” He indeed sees a bit of himself in his son, which makes him a tad bit prouder every single day.

Who is Khalil Shakir’s mother, Ramona?

While Khalil learned discipline from his father, his mother, Ramona, was always there for holistic guidance. She gave him one simple piece of advice early on, that Khalil carries with himself to this day. “I’ve always told my kids, ‘Be quiet and play football.’ Wherever the coach puts you, do it,” which Khalil religiously follows.

Hence, across his football career, his mother pushed Khalil to “do it all.” When he was playing for Vista Murrieta High School as a QB, Khalil acknowledged the importance of his mother’s advice. He noted, “It helped me to mature more in the game, having all those responsibilities in high school.” Ramona is always by his side, to provide him the needed support to do his best and always strive for excellence