Twelve years later, LA Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen plays football like a man who has something to prove. At 33, he leads the Chargers in receptions (50) and ranks second in yards (520). Overall, he is 10th among the receivers and 20th in receiving yards and touchdowns (5). But what’s the secret mantra behind his longevity?

“I don’t have a step to lose. I’m able to run full speed because my full speed isn’t Tyreek Hill or Ja’Marr Chase or something like that,” Allen said. “So I can use my speed to my ability and still stop on a dime.”

His production has been groundbreaking. TE Antonio Gates, the franchise leader in receptions, recorded 955 receptions in 236 games. Keenan Allen will break his record with 2 more receptions (954 receptions currently) in 62% of the games (148). His confidence reveals it all. Most receivers slow down at his age, but Allen never relied on pure physical talent.

That has helped him. Allen uses sharp cuts and perfect timing to beat defenders. Despite all that, many still doubt him. The Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears last year because of salary cap problems. The Bears let him go after one season. Allen signed a one-year, $3 million deal to return to the LA Chargers. Now, that disrespect fuels him. “I never questioned (my talent),” Allen said. “I just had to show them.”

He says it forced him to play at the elite level. Every catch feels like proof that he still belongs among the best. He became the fastest receiver to complete 1,000 receptions in Week 5 of the 2025 season. Allen’s game is built on precision and power.

His former coach, Sanjay Lal, says Allen’s quickness doesn’t show on film because it looks effortless. “He might not have the 4.3 40-yard dash badge on his name, but as far as twitch goes, he’s elite,” Lal said.

It’s not that this is happening for the first time. He has shown such elite football skills back in 2017, when he emerged as the top receiver.

Keenan Allen has won the NFL Comeback of the Year Award

If anyone shows what it truly means to be a comeback player, it’s Keenan Allen. He missed the last eight games of the 2015 season, then played only two quarters in 2016 before tearing his ACL and missing the rest of the year. Many thought his career might never be the same. But in 2017, Allen came back and delivered one of the best seasons ever by a Chargers wide receiver.

He played all 16 games for the first time in his career, caught 102 passes, and gained 1,393 yards. His 102 catches broke LaDainian Tomlinson’s team record, and his yardage total was the second-highest in Chargers history. He also led the league in total first downs (74), third-down catches (36), and third-down yards (552).

He ranked near the top in yards and receptions league-wide, finishing third and fourth in those categories. Allen had seven 100-yard games, including 4 in a row, and 6 touchdowns. From Weeks 11 to 13, he became the first player in NFL history with three straight games of 10+ catches, 100+ yards, and a touchdown. Defenders across the league struggled to stop him. Allen even made history on defense.

In Week 16 against the Jets, he intercepted a Hail Mary pass, making him the first player ever with 90+ catches and an interception in the same season. Only Don Hutson and Randy Moss had ever posted 1,000+ receiving yards and an interception in one year. It was no surprise when Allen won the 2017 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. He joined Drew Brees and Philip Rivers as the only Chargers to ever win it. Allen’s confidence grew, too.

“I’m probably the best,” he said in an interview. “I can do what those guys do, no question about it.”

From sitting on the sideline in 2016 to becoming the heart of the Chargers offense in 2017, Keenan Allen’s comeback wasn’t just impressive; it was legendary. Years later, he is using the same motivation to conquer defenders.