Whether Keenan Allen returns to the Los Angeles Chargers for the 2026 season or not, he's already solidified his position as the greatest wide receiver in franchise history. Truth be told, over the course of his 13-year career, all but one of which have been with the Bolts, he's put up numbers that have him in position to be one of the best wideouts in NFL history.
Honestly, it's a bit surprising that the Chargers haven't yet offered the six-time Pro Bowler a new deal, as he had a solid 2025 campaign, catching 81 passes for 777 yards and four touchdowns, brings a veteran presence to the locker room, obviously adds depth to the wideout room, and shouldn't be all that expensive, as he played last season on a one-year deal worth just $3.02 million. I mean, if Los Angeles doesn't sign him, someone like the Kansas City Chiefs very well could, and Chargers fans certainly don't want to see that scenario play out.
Now, as mentioned, Allen is unquestionably the greatest wide receiver in Chargers history. But it's hard to call him the greatest pass-catcher in franchise history, given all the things that Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates accomplished in his 16-year run with the team.
That said, though, if Allen does return to Los Angeles for one more season, he's within striking distance of Gates' franchise record for receiving yards. And furthermore, whether it's in LaLa Land or not, he's also within striking distance of making some NFL history.
Keenan Allen can make all sorts of history if he returns for the 2026 NFL season
Let's break this down by category, shall we?
Keenan Allen needs just 535 receiving yards to pass Antonio Gates for the most in Chargers history
In his 12 years with the Chargers, Allen has racked up 985 regular-season receptions for 11,307 yards. While those 985 grabs are already the most in team history, a record he set just this past year, he still needs 535 more yards to surpass Gates, who tallied 11,841 yards on 955 catches from 2003 to 2018.
So, that's obviously very doable for Allen, who has hit that 535-yard total every year of his career but one, that being the 2016 campaign in which he suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 1.
Keenan Allen has a solid shot to move into the top 25 in NFL history in receiving yards
As Allen posted 744 yards in his lone season with the Chicago Bears in 2024, his career total currently stands at 12,051, which currently puts him at No. 33 on the all-time list. But as you'll see below, he's just 671 yards away from entering the top 25.
- 25. Art Monk -- 12,721
- 26. Davante Adams -- 12,633
- 27. Brandon Marshall -- 12,351
- 28. Antonio Brown -- 12,291
- 29. Jimmy Smith -- 12,287
- 30. Charlie Joiner -- 12,146
- 31. Hines Ward -- 12,083
- 32. Derrick Mason -- 12,061
- 33. Keenan Allen -- 12,051
Now, it must be noted that Davante Adams holds the No. 26 slot, and barring injury, he's easily surpassing Art Monk at No. 25. But as Irving Fryar sits at No. 24 with 12,785 yards, Allen would still move into the top 25 with a 735-yard season.
Keenan Allen needs only one receiving TD to move into the top 50 all-time
As far as receiving touchdowns go, Allen sits in third in Chargers history with 63. And outside of a miracle season, that's where he'll stay, as Lance Alworth sits in second with 81, while Gates easily tops the list with 116.
From an overall standpoint, tacking on the seven he scored with the Bears, Allen's 70 have him sitting in a tie for 52nd on the league's all-time list alongside Gary Collins, A.J. Green, and Andre Johnson. But with just one more, he'd move into a tie for 50th alongside "Bullet" Bob Hayes and Wesley Walker.
If he can manage to get to six, he'd actually move into the top 40 in a tie for 39th with Fred Biletnikoff and Harold Jackson.
Keenan Allen can move into the top 10 all-time in receptions, maybe even the top five
As mentioned, Allen has 985 receptions for the Bolts and tallied 70 for Chicago, bringing his career total to 1,055, which currently puts him in 13th on the all-time list. If he returns, he'll have no problem cracking the top 10, but he does face a challenge getting into the top five.
- 4. Jason Witten -- 1,228
- 5. Marvin Harrison -- 1,102
- 6. Cris Carter -- 1,101
- 7. Tim Brown -- 1,094
- 8. Travis Kelce -- 1,080
- 9. Terrell Owens -- 1,078
- 10. Anquan Boldin -- 1,076
- 11. Reggie Wayne -- 1,070
- 12. Andre Johnson -- 1,062
- 13. Keenan Allen -- 1,055
As you can see, Allen is just 48 receptions away from catching Marvin Harrison at No. 5. But as you can also see, Travis Kelce sits at No. 8 at 1,080. And again, barring injury, Kelce will have no problem moving into the top five.
But with Jason Witten in the No. 4 spot at 1,228, Allen would have a hard time getting into the top five unless he can blow Kelce out of the water, which doesn't seem likely. Not impossible, of course. But not likely. Nevertheless, Keenan has an easy path into the top 10.
So, there you have it, folks. Keenan Allen is set up for a potentially historic 2026, but that obviously only happens if he inks a new deal, So, we now just wait to see how things play out.
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