An offseason that had one of the most anticipated moves in LA Chargers history also had one of the most heartbreaking. Just months after hiring Jim Harbaugh to be the team's next head coach, the Chargers were forced to trade arguably the biggest fan favorite on the team, Keenan Allen.
New general manager Joe Hortiz was given a precarious salary cap situation by former Chargers GM Tom Telesco. Allen was unwilling to take a pay cut like Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, forcing the Chargers to trade him to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick.
As disappointing as it was when it happened, the Allen trade has become easier to swallow as time has gone on. It is still painful to see Allen in another jersey, especially on a Chicago Bears team that projects to be extremely entertaining this season.
The Bears released mic'd-up footage of Allen and the other Chicago WRs on Wednesday and the former Charger looks like he is loving life away from his former team. Chargers fans definitely want to see Allen happy and see him succeed but it still pulls at the heartstrings to see him having such a great time in Chicago.
Keenan Allen mic’d up at Bears OTA’s.
— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) July 17, 2024
With appearances from DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. pic.twitter.com/Vd1FffpEsX
Keenan Allen on the Bears still doesn't feel real for Chargers fans
The NFL is a business and Allen simply had to be traded for the Chargers to become cap-compliant this offseason but it does not make it any easier. Chargers fans see clips like this and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that Allen should be doing this in powder blue.
Allen wasn't only popular because of how great he is on the football field. He was immensely popular for his personality and his loyalty to the Chargers. Allen was the longest-tenured player on the team and that meant something to Chargers fans.
Now, he is taking that same infectious personality to Chicago. A young team that has not won in recent years desperately needs someone like Allen, which is why he is going to be so important to the Bears this season.
Meanwhile, the Chargers have to deal with having one of the worst cast of weapons in the entire sport this season. The team simply has to hope that rookie Ladd McConkey can do his best Allen impression and give the team 75% of the same production that Allen had last season.
It is hard to see Allen with the Bears now and it is only going to get harder when he is putting up huge numbers for the Bears this season.