Keenan Allen’s Journey Back Home to the Chargers

It is no secret that Keenan Allen didn’t want to leave the Chargers. He envisioned himself spending his entire career in powder blue.

Last offseason, Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz came in and knew they had to fix the salary cap. Allen was asked to take a pay cut—something he shouldn’t have had to do after posting 108 receptions, 1,243 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Instead, the Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears for the 110th pick in the fourth round. Hortiz later packaged that pick, along with a second-rounder, in a deal with the New England Patriots to move up and select Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey. With the 137th pick in the fifth round, the Chargers also added Maryland cornerback Tarheeb Still, who went on to lead the team with four interceptions.

While the rookies shined in Los Angeles, Allen was in Chicago adjusting to a new offensive system, two different head coaches, and a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams.

He played in 15 games, recording 70 catches for 744 yards and seven touchdowns, but the Bears finished just 5-12. It wasn’t an easy year.

“I needed my team with me,” Allen said.

By “team,” he wasn’t referring to his teammates but to his wife, Ciara, and their four children, who stayed in Southern California while he lived in Chicago. The family decided not to uproot for five months, choosing instead to let the kids remain in school and stay close to their friends.

Even from the Midwest, Allen kept tabs on the Chargers, watching how they fared throughout the season. He noticed McConkey’s breakout rookie year—one that saw him break many of Allen’s own franchise rookie records.

“He had a couple more games,” Allen said with a laugh.

Allen also kept a close eye on Quentin Johnston, who had been a rookie during his final year in Los Angeles. At the time, Allen had been vocal about advising Johnston to block out outside noise and focus on his development.

That growth showed in 2024, as Johnston nearly doubled his rookie-year production with 55 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns.

“His confidence is building,” Allen said of Johnston. “I think he’s ready to show this year even more.”

He even watched the Houston Texans eliminate the Chargers in a 32-12 loss—a game where McConkey was the only real receiving threat, finishing with 197 yards and a touchdown. The next-best receiver that day was tight end Will Dissly, who managed just 16 yards.

“They could have used me,” Allen said.

Allen admitted it hurt to watch his old team go down like that after such a solid year under Harbaugh. His mind, as always, was breaking down defenses and imagining where he could have taken advantage of their weak spots.

Even though he had nothing to do with the matchup against Houston, Allen instantly recognized how he could have helped.

“Just because of the way Houston plays—they run man so much,” Allen said. “Definitely could have been a help.”

He entered the offseason as a free agent for the first time in his career but didn’t receive the kind of offers he felt matched his value.

“I think I got down played,” Allen said. “That is part of the chip.”

That chip on his shoulder has fueled him throughout his career—whether it was Mike McCoy rarely giving him first-team reps as a rookie in training camp, his Madden rating, or top receiver lists. Allen has always thrived when doubted.

He stayed in shape, continued his workouts, and waited for the phone to ring—hoping it would be the Chargers calling.

But instead, the Chargers went younger, drafting Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith while also bringing back Allen’s former teammate, Mike Williams.

During his first press conference, Williams expressed his desire to reunite with Allen and quarterback Justin Herbert.

“We ain’t gonna speak on that. We ain’t gonna talk about that,” Williams said with a few laughs. “I’d love that, though. I would love that…That’s my dog. We’d be together every other day. Yea, I love that. Why not?”

On the first day of training camp, however, the Chargers announced that Williams would be retiring after the numerous injuries he had sustained throughout his career.

A couple of weeks later, Allen finally received the call he had been waiting for—the Chargers wanted to bring him in for a workout.

Before moving forward, Allen reached out to Williams out of respect, letting him know he might be returning to the team.

“I ain’t tripping bro, go do your thing,” Williams responded to Allen.

Allen admitted that if Williams hadn’t retired, he doesn’t believe he would be back. But as he put it, things happen for a reason.

He also credited the fans for playing a role in his return. Throughout the process, they flooded social media with calls for the team to bring him back.

“Grateful, feeling the love for sure,” Allen said of the support. “The whole way through the process last year, this year. Like I said, I always wanted to be back.”

From 2020 to 2023, Allen shared a unique relationship with Herbert—so strong that he once joked that if they both went on the field blindfolded, the quarterback could still find his receiver. That connection translated into 376 completions for 4,088 yards and 25 touchdowns over 52 games.

Allen noticed during workouts and the first few practices back that the chemistry was still there, though some areas still needed work.

“For me, the pitch and catch stuff has been picking up where we left off,” Allen said. “Just learning a new offense where they like the spots, the splits and stuff like that. That’s where we are just trying to build the chemistry on that.”

Safety Derwin James is one of the players who lights up every time Allen’s return comes up. He knows firsthand how dangerous Allen is on third down.

“They already have the connection,” James said. “It’s like having your boy back with you.”

In Allen’s absence, Herbert developed a strong rapport with rookie receiver Ladd McConkey, connecting on 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing only three interceptions. Allen has noticed Herbert’s growth heading into their fifth season together.

“He’s more confident, he’s more composed,” Allen said. “He knows this offense like the back of his hand. So I’m excited about it.”

Before Allen’s return, some NFL experts questioned whether he and McConkey could coexist in the same offensive scheme, given that both primarily play in the slot. Allen dismissed the concern.

“You got two guys that know how to play football, love to play football and compete,” Allen said. “I think you can put us anywhere. I’m a guy who can be anywhere on the field and obviously he showed last year he can do it all, too.”

McConkey agreed, noting the flexibility of the system offensive coordinator Greg Roman runs.

“The great thing about our offense is we can all move around,” McConkey said. “One by three formations, whoever it might be, me, Q, Keenan, [Reagor], whoever is out there, we can all rotate and be in different positions and scheme it up the way they want and have whoever run what route then we can rotate and run another way.”

Roman also feels confident it will work.

“There is great communication going on there too, so that’s great as well,” Roman said. “He scoffed at it. I scoff at it. There we are.”

Even after only a month back with the Chargers, Allen was already voted a team captain.

“The respect he has from his teammates spoke volumes,” Harbaugh said of Allen being voted captain.

The Chargers’ receiving room features a mix of young, talented players—some experienced, some not—but all capable of making plays for Herbert. Allen has watched them closely in practice and preseason games. His first opportunity came in the Rams preseason matchup, where Tre Harris caught six passes for 85 yards and KLS had two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

“Definitely impressed by the young guys,” Allen explained. “Just how polished they are, the techniques that they already have, the speed of the game, and the confidence.”

With the receiving room’s inexperience, a veteran presence was needed. While Mike Williams had been brought back, his retirement made Allen the obvious choice due to his familiarity with the team and desire to help elevate those around him.

“He’s been doing it for a long, long time,” Harris said. “I’ve even talked to him about his career, just like all the ups and downs he’s gone through. It’s great to have a vet like that in your room.”

Before Allen returned, McConkey told the “Kay Adams Show” that he would have loved to have Allen as a teammate to pick his brain. He even tracked down Allen’s past practice tape to study his route running. Now, Allen is right there in the room.

“He’s a student in the game,” McConkey said. “He’s been around a lot, seen tons of different looks and ran tons of different routes. Asking him that it’s been helpful, and it’s been huge for not only for me, but our entire receiver room.”

Allen, in turn, has observed how McConkey approaches preparation and game day. He quickly noticed the rookie’s dedication.

“Just seeing it in person speaks volumes to his work ethic,” Allen said of McConkey. “He does it day in and day out. He comes in and he works. He’s one of the first guys here. He’s always getting the extra body work.”

Another player Allen sought out was second-year cornerback Tarheeb Still, who came to the Chargers via the Allen-to-Bears trade through the Patriots.

Allen noticed Still’s number, 29, flashing on the screen last year and didn’t hesitate to call him out.

“We going to get after your ass,” Allen told the second-year cornerback.

Still, not usually a trash-talker, admitted that the veteran receiver’s challenge excited him to face Allen in practice.

“I really took it as ‘Okay, let’s go. I get to compete against one of the best to play receiver. So, I took it as a challenge,” Still said. “Kind of got me going a little bit. Kind of got me fired up.”

Still knows that going up against Allen isn’t for the faint of heart and views it as a chance to improve.

“It’s really fun to go against him in practice,” Still said. “He talks a lot, so you get to go at it. You get to compete. He runs great routes, so you get great looks. You really get to get better. So I appreciate all the work.”

The young receivers aren’t the only ones seeking Allen’s guidance. After plays where they face each other, Still said he goes to the veteran to learn how to improve.

“He tells me what he sees when he’s attacking, how he’s going to attack certain routes, what kind of look he’s going to give—so stuff like that, stuff I can learn from,” Still said.

At this point in his career, Allen is focused on winning. He has been coached by Mike McCoy, Anthony Lynn, Brandon Staley, Matt Eberflus, along with Giff Smith and Thomas Brown (interim head coaches). 

He’s experienced great wins, ugly losses, and everything in between.

Allen believes the team can succeed under Harbaugh.

“I think so, he has a different approach,” Allen said of Harbaugh. “He just gets it off in a different way, and it just means a little different. It’s coming from a different place. So I think it’s good.”

He also feels the young players feed off the culture Harbaugh has instilled.

“Everybody wants to win,” Allen said of the team. “Everybody wants to get their job done. The culture is unmatched.”

Allen’s focus is clear: make an impact, play football, and win a Super Bowl. On paper, this Chargers squad has the best chance to do so because of the talent and depth around it in all the years Allen has been a pro..

The team boasts more depth than big names—a mix of veterans and young players, with Herbert at quarterback and strength across all skill positions.

Allen knows his role with this Chargers team: it’s the same one he’s had since being drafted in 2013, the same role he believes could finally help the Chargers overcome their playoff slump.

“I don’t think it changes for me,” Allen said. “Be Keenan Allen, do what you do. Get open, catch the ball.”