At one point, Antonio Gates’ records felt untouchable following Keenan Allen’s 2024 departure from the Chargers. But the veteran Bolts WR decided to return to Los Angeles this season after just one year in Chicago. He stamped his return to the team with seven catches, six first downs, 68 yards, and a touchdown vs. the Chiefs in Week 1.
Now that Allen will be on the Chargers for at least the remainder of the 2025 season, Gates’ records are no longer too far out of reach. One of the Hall of Fame TE’s Chargers records could fall as soon as this season. Gates’ career 955 receptions are the most in franchise history..
One Antonio Gates record that Chargers WR Keenan Allen is likely to break in 2025 (and one that may take a little bit longer)
Prior to last Friday’s game, Allen was at 904 receptions in his time with Los Angeles for second place on the list. With the aforementioned seven receptions vs. Kansas City, he inches closer to Gates’ mark. He is now 44 receptions from tying the mark set by Gates. Considering how frequently Allen was targeted by quarterback Justin Herbert in his first game back with the team, the receptions record does feel like one he could reach this season.
The other record is probably a tougher sell for Allen to break this year. Gates is the Chargers’ all time receiving yards leader at 11,841. After a 68 yard game on Friday, Allen is 1243 yards from tying Gates’ mark. In all likelihood, that’s a record that would be out of reach for the Cal product in the 2025 season. But it’s a mark that would be possible for him to reach if his return to Los Angeles lasted for more than one season.
Back in 2023 before his departure to the Bears, Allen made his stance on chasing Antonio Gates’ records clear: “I’m coming. I’m coming. At this point, this is what we chasing right now. You know big bro. Definitely gonna try to make a run for it,” Allen said.
At one point it felt like all of Gates’ Chargers records were safe. But if Allen can string together more performances like Friday’s vs. the Chiefs, it may be more of a matter of when they fall than if.