Keenan Allen’s Reunion Tour: Star Wideout Eyes Return to Bears, Where His NFL Journey Began

It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen yesterday expressed interest again in coming back to Chicago next season. Earlier this season, Allen gave Caleb Williams a pretty large vote of confidence for the future and expressed that he “absolutely” wanted to return in 2025.

When speaking to the media on Friday, Allen again expressed his desire to come back to the Bears next year…

… But he also included that either Los Angeles team would be an option as well.

(Luis: So … Keenan Allen either stays in Chicago or returns to his Cali roots. Understandable!)

Keenan Allen Open To Bears Return

It makes sense that Allen would want to play either in Chicago or LA. Patrick Finlay notes in his article above that the veteran wideout doesn’t have a ton of desire to transition to playing with a new quarterback. A return to Chicago would obviously keep him with Caleb Williams. Allen played with Justin Herbert played with for several seasons with the Chargers. The Rams would require a transition, obviously, but with Sean McVay’s offense and Matthew Stafford calling the signals it wouldn’t be the most difficult for him.

Keenan Allen spent the entirety of his career with the Chargers organization before the move to the Bears, and his family still lives in Los Angeles as he never relocated them after the move. At this stage of his career, staying in Chicago or returning to LA by far makes the most sense for him. He’s looking for familiarity and comfort – both locations provide that.

As for a return to the Bears, I still am in favor of that provided that the price is right. I would think he’d command in the ~$10 million range per year on a one-year deal or two-year deal with the second not guaranteed. Chicago has plenty of cap space to work with again this offseason and that won’t really require a massive commitment.

I do think Chicago’s offense has relied on him a bit too much this season, and I’d like to see him and Rome Odunze switch roles for the sake of the soon-to-be second-year wideout’s development. Having said that, he’s still a steady veteran presence who can produce and make big catches when needed. It seems like he’s been good in the locker room with the younger players as well. There’s no doubt that he’s been productive and relatively healthy.

The coaching hire will have to be right of course, and there will be several factors to consider in the offseason that we don’t yet know, but if the puzzle piece fits I would still like to see Allen back in a Bears uniform next season.