It took longer than anticipated but the end result was all the same: Keenan Allen returned to the LA Chargers in 2025, less than 18 months after he was traded away from the team for salary-cap reasons.
Allen made it clear all offseason that he was eyeing a Chargers return. At first, it appeared the Chargers were waiting until after the 2025 NFL Draft. Once it bled deep into the summer, most optimistic fans lost hope in Allen returning to the powder blue.
This offseason may go much differently for Allen and the Chargers. When speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chargers GM Joe Hortiz was rather upfront about the team's desire to bring Allen back next season.
Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh on WR Keenan Allen’s fit into the offense: “I thought he did a heck of a job.”
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) January 15, 2026
Hortiz: “There’s a lot of guys we’d like to have back and he’s on that list.”
On if there are too many WRs with KLS and Tre: “I’m ok with having too many good players.”
Chargers want Keenan Allen back in 2026
Allen is free to sign with any team in the league as a free agent but it seems unlikely that he will leave the team once again this offseason. The veteran wide receiver made it very clear that he only wanted to play in LA last offseason, and it's hard to imagine that dynamic has changed much.
The variable last year was the Chargers' interest. With young wideouts in Ladd McConkey, Tre' Harris, Quentin Johnston, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, it didn't appear as if there was any room for Allen. But the Chargers made room, and it made the offense better as a result.
He may no longer be in his prime but it's clear Allen still has a lot he can contribute to the Chargers in 2026. Allen was one of Justin Herbert's most trusted third-down targets, and while his overall volume diminished, his impact in key spots remained high.
There isn't a great free-agent class at wide receiver and it's unlikely the Chargers will use a top-60 pick on a wideout for the second year in a row. Thus, it makes sense to bring Allen back and trust that the young receivers will get better with one more year in the league, and with a better OC.
Granted, there will be a small contingent of fans upset with Allen returning. Allen will eat into the snap count, which, to some, is an unequivocal mistake for the Chargers to not prioritize the young wideouts. While that's an understandable thought process, Hortiz hit the nail on the head: there is no such thing as too many good receivers.
Say what you will, but Allen is undoubtedly still a good wide receiver. He proved that in 2025 and the Chargers' decision-makers clearly want him back because of it.