On Tuesday, former Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen agreed to terms for a one-year, $8.52 million deal to return to the Chargers. He will head back to the franchise with which he spent the first 11 years of his career. 

Allen was traded to the Bears in March 2024 from the Chargers and finished second on the team in receiving last season despite having one of the worst seasons of his career. Los Angeles will hope he can rebound and provide some steady, veteran depth to their receiver corps, especially after Mike Williams, another free agent WR who returned to L.A., retired at the dawn of training camp.. 

Let’s take a look at Allen’s new contract with the Chargers and a look at his career as a whole. 

Keenan Allen contract details

Allen’s new contract with the Chargers will pay him $8.52 million over one year. 

When Allen was traded to the Bears, he had one year left on a four-year contract that paid him $80.1 million, including $43 million guaranteed. 

During the 2024-25 season, Allen was the 11th highest-paid receiver in the NFL, earning $23.1 million in total cash, per Sportrac, but this deal pushes him considerably down the list.

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Keenan Allen age

Allen is 33, and this could be the final season of his career. Impressively, Allen is the second-oldest wideout in the league, per Statmuse. Only Adam Thielen of the Panthers, who is 34, is older.

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Keenan Allen stats, injury history

Allen was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Cal with the 76th overall pick. 

He had a great season as a rookie in 2013, accounting for 71 receptions for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns. He did so while playing through knee and shoulder injuries, as well. 

His overall numbers regressed in 2014 and 2015, combining for 1,508 yards and eight touchdowns, but injuries played a big role in that. During the 2015 season, he suffered a lacerated kidney in early November, which caused him to last eight games of the season. 

Unfortunately, during Week 1 of his 2016 season, he tore his ACL and was out for the entire season. He rehabbed successfully and had the most impressive season of his career, accounting for 102 receptions with 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. He had two straight 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2010, as well. In 2020, he finished with 992 yards receiving with eight touchdowns despite missing two games. 

In 2021, he finished with 1,138 receiving yards, including six touchdowns. In 2022, he missed seven games due to a thigh injury. His last 1,000-yard season with the Chargers came in 2023 when he hauled in 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven scores. Last season with the Bears, he finished second on the team in receiving, getting 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns.   

Allen holds the Chargers’ record for receptions (904) and receiving yards (10,530) for wide receivers. He also holds the franchise record for receptions in a season with 108. Allen trails tight end Antonio Gates by 1,311 yards for most receiving yards all-time for the Chargers. He has the third-most receiving touchdowns (59) in franchise history. 

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Keenan Allen career earnings

Per Sportrac, Allen has earned $133,112,117 during his 12-year NFL career. His biggest contract came in 2020, as the Chargers signed him to a four-year, $80-million contract in September. 

He previously signed a four-year $45 million contract extension with the Chargers in June 2016. 

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Chargers receiver depth chart