Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is not ready to ride off into the sunset yet. After his first season back in LA with the organization, Allen's latest comments make it clear that he's not considering retirement. On an appearance with the "The Zach Gelb Show", the franchise legend also indicated that he specifically wants to remain with the Chargers.
Gelb asked Allen if he intends to play football next year. "Absolutely. Body feels good, healthy. Being in the locker room around guys like Ladd [McConkey], Justin [Herbert]-you know, like we talked about it. It keeps me young and able to do what I'm supposed to do," Allen answered.
Chargers WR Keenan Allen expects to be back with the organization in 2026
Gelb then went a step further and asked the Chargers WR if he fully intends on being with the same team next year. "100%," Allen responded. After a follow-up question was ten asked about if going to another team would be under consideration, he firmly shut down the possibility of leaving LA. "Absolutely not," Allen said.
The comments about Allen wanting to be back are largely expected. He also showed a strong desire to return to Los Angeles last offseason if he was not extended by Chicago. Allen shutting down the idea of playing for other teams this early in the free agency process indicates that he does not want to leave the area with his family here.
Allen was largely still the same player in 2025 even if he was athletically diminished. While his ADOT and YAC/reception have obviously dipped over the years, he still has a nose for third-down conversions. He converted 51 first downs last season and had 1.62 Y/RR, both figures that were increases from year to year over his 2024 campaign in Chicago.
On the other hand, having Allen as heavily targeted as he was in 2025 does have some unintended consequences. WR Ladd McConkey dipped in production last season and was invisible during some games down the stretch.
Even when removing Allen's incentives game in Week 18, he still out-targeted McConkey last season. "3rd and Keenan" is what he's good at, but it is also another play in which the explosive Georgia product is not touching the ball.
There is a needle to thread in regards to getting the best out of Allen while not having his productivity impact the younger pass-catching targets negatively. But Mike McDaniel is someone to trust in figuring that out as opposed to Greg Roman's more rigid personnel groupings and roles. There's a role for Allen in Los Angeles if he wants it, but what exactly that entails will need to be discussed.
Ultimately, Allen is one of the leaders of the locker room and should be back with the Chargers if he wants to be. But in 2026, the Chargers need to be more efficient and intentional about getting McConkey involved if Allen is to return.