Chargers Sign Franchise Legend Keenan Allen

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 10:00 PM ET

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Keenan Allen agreed to a one-year, $8.52 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday evening, bringing the former franchise star back to the team that originally drafted him.

This news follows the surprise retirement of Allen’s former Chargers teammate, Mike Williams, last month. This left the team with a talented receiving corps but lacking a veteran leader. Enter Allen, whose 11 successful NFL seasons will bring valuable experience and leadership to a young pass-catching group.

Allen built his career with the Chargers, but was traded to the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2024 season for a fourth-round pick. This was a painful divorce for fans, but hopefully bringing Allen back for his age-33 season can heal those wounds.

Allen is a historical cornerstone for the franchise, with the second-most receptions and receiving yards in franchise history, trailing only the newly-inducted Hall of Famer Antonio Gates in those categories.

What he’ll do for the team in 2025 is a different question, though. Allen will hopefully aid the development of rookie receivers Keandre Lambert-Smith and Tre’ Harris, but at age 33, expectations for his on-field production are modest compared to the rest of his accomplished career.

Allen had a productive year in a disastrous Bears offense in 2024, but his eight drops on the season were in the 13th percentile among possible receivers, according to PFF. For him to return to being the reliable target Justin Herbert remembers from his early years as the Bolts quarterback, Allen will need to get his hands back to their normally dependable selves.

However, at the end of the day, Allen was a key figure in a frustrating but cherished era of Chargers football, and having him back in powder blue benefits the fans, team, and franchise as a whole.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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