Keenan Allen

Chargers Bring Back WR Keenan Allen

August 5th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Ely Allen

After only a year away from Los Angeles, veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen has indeed returned to the Chargers. After much speculation in the past few days, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke the news of Allen’s new one-year, $8.52MM deal.

After finishing his lone season in Chicago, in which he had a modest yet still impressive 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns, Allen expressed interest in playing in only one of two cities in 2025: Chicago or Los Angeles. In the weeks leading up to free agency, though, the Bears seemed all but willing to let Allen walk in free agency. The Chargers, on the other hand, expressed some openness to a reunion with their long-time leading receiver.

Los Angeles had already reunited with Allen’s long-time teammate Mike Williams in March, and the idea of getting the band back together after only a one-year hiatus was looking like a decent possibility. Unfortunately for that possibility, Williams opted to announce his retirement just two and half weeks ago, perhaps opening the door for another veteran leader to take his slot on the roster.

Four days ago, the 33-year-old pass catcher visited the team that drafted him in the third round all those years ago out of Cal, and a day after head coach Jim Harbaugh finally expressed some interest in bringing Allen back to the locker room, the deal gets done.

Allen joins a young group of receivers in Los Angeles for the 2025 season. The Chargers’ top talent at the position is a second-year Ladd McConkey, a third-year Quentin Johnston, a rookie second-round Tre Harris, and a third-year Derius Davis. The TCU alums, Johnston and Davis, are familiar to Allen from his last season with the team, but the SEC pair are new faces in Allen’s return to the room.

With McConkey expected to be a mainstay in the slot after a phenomenal rookie season (82 catches, 1,149 yards, seven touchdowns), Allen can’t easily slip into that inside role, despite the tendency for players of his age to transition from an outside role. Johnston and Harris have plenty of size to work on the outsides, while Davis works as the primary return man.

Roles seem to be pretty clearly defined, so Allen could end up as the first man off the bench at any position or he may still be able to work effectively as an outside starter over either Johnston or Harris. Whatever role he plays, he shouldn’t have to work hard to reestablish the existing chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert. We’ll see how he fits in with the new group in the weeks to come, but in the end his most valuable asset may be the leadership jersey No. 13 provides to the room in Year 13.

Jim Harbaugh Hopes Chargers Bring Back WR Keenan Allen

August 4th, 2025 at 2:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Keenan Allen worked out with the Chargers last week as the sides contemplate a reunion. No deal has been signed yet, but that will be the case if head coach Jim Harbaugh has his way.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Allen’s workout went well. He also noted his desire for a contract to be worked out in this case. Attention will thus turn to the efforts of Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz – who traded Allen away last spring – to finalize a pact.

The Bolts attempted to work out a pay cut with Allen in 2024 while the Harbaugh-Hortiz regime looked to make needed salary cap adjustments. In the end, Allen was dealt to the Bears while Mike Williams was released. Williams returned to Los Angeles but then elected to retire, leaving the door open to a veteran addition this summer. Harbaugh made it clear back in April he would welcome a second Allen tenure with the Chargers, so today’s comments come as little surprise.

Through the 2024 campaign and beyond, Allen has expressed a willingness to remain in Chicago or to return to Los Angeles. The Bears still have D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, and the team added Luther Burden in the second round of the draft as a slot option for the present and future. Another Bears campaign is thus not expected, and little interest has been shown so far from other teams. With roughly $31.5MM in cap space, the Chargers could easily afford to bring Allen, 33, back into the fold.

Ladd McConkey enjoyed a stellar rookie season in 2024, and he figures to be a mainstay (particularly in the slot) for years to come. Allen is best suited to operate on the inside at this stage of his career, but the six-time Pro Bowler could of course also provide Justin Herbert with an experienced option on the perimeter. Especially given Williams’ decision to retire, the Chargers could stand to add a veteran presence at the WR spot.

Allen topped 1,000 yards six times during his Bolts tenure, including a career-best 1,243 in 2023. A repeat of that production would not be expected in the event a new Chargers deal were to be worked out, but one could still prove to be beneficial for both parties. It will be interesting to see if Harbaugh’s desire comes to pass in this situation.

Chargers, Keenan Allen Discussing Reunion

August 1st, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The second-leading receiver in Chargers history is discussing a reunion with his initial NFL team. Keenan Allen said in January he would aim for either a Bears re-signing or a return to California. The latter option appears in play.

Allen is meeting with the Chargers today, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report. Mutual interest exists here, as Jim Harbaugh did not slam the door on an Allen comeback in April. After longtime Allen sidekick Mike Williams retired before his second Bolts stint was to begin, a veteran opening exists here.

Although Allen is more of a slot player at this point in his career, the Chargers are determining if he and Ladd McConkey can coexist. McConkey seized command of the Bolts’ receiving corps last year, being drafted weeks after the team traded Allen to the Bears. After Chicago used a 2025 second-round pick on Luther Burden, Allen’s path back to the team looked to be blocked. A recent report indicated Allen was drawing interest, and the Chargers appear to be one of the teams open to a signing.

The Chargers have a locked-in top target in McConkey, but they do not have much certainty beyond him. The team has not seen 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston justify his draft slot, and rookies — post-Williams — are otherwise being asked to step in. Los Angeles added another second-round wideout, Tre Harris, and used a fifth-round selection on KeAndre Lambert-Smith. While Allen is 33 and nearing the end of his career, he could still probably provide a solid supporting-cast option. The Bolts are undoubtedly seeing what such a move will cost.

Allen’s 10,530 receiving yards trail only 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates (11,841) in Bolts history. Allen also trails Gates in terms of years of service with the franchise (16-11). Not certain to join Gates or Charlie Joiner in Canton, Allen is an all-time Chargers great who provided an important No. 1 presence during Philip Rivers‘ later years and Justin Herbert‘s rookie contract. Allen posted six 1,000-yard seasons with the Bolts, his most recent producing a career-high 95.6 yards per game.

After Allen’s 1,243-yard season, hard feelings emerged after the Chargers attempted to give him a pay cut. This came as the Bolts made four major moves to reach cap compliance in Joe Hortiz‘s first year as GM. The team gave Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack pay cuts and released Mike Williams. Allen was then traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. It proved interesting that Allen was willing to return to the Chargers under this regime, but it being in the city where he lived for 11 years upon becoming a pro obviously matters a great deal.

Last season, Allen became a regular Caleb Williams target. At 32, he caught 70 passes for 744 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bears did not adjust Allen’s $20MM-per-year deal upon acquiring him, letting it expire in March. Allen’s Chicago-or-L.A.-or-retirement pledge has not produced a known update yet, even as a recent report indicated multiple teams were interested. Allen has not been closely linked to another team, making these rather important Chargers talks.

A six-time Pro Bowler, Allen is running out of time to submit a Hall of Fame case. The Chargers giving him a chance to add important contributions to a playoff-caliber team would help in that regard. Allen joins Amari Cooper as accomplished unsigned 30-somethings at the position, as DeAndre Hopkins, Stefon Diggs and Tyler Lockett found homes months ago.

Keenan Allen Drawing Free Agency Interest

July 23rd, 2025 at 6:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two of this era’s most accomplished wide receivers remain unattached as training camps begin. Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen have spent more than four months apiece in free agency.

Allen is two years older than Cooper, going into an age-33 season — should he choose to keep going — but teams remain interested in the polished route runner. Multiple teams have shown interest in Allen in recent weeks, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. This offering makes it sound like Allen does intend to play, as Schultz notes Allen is believed to have waited until camp to assess teams’ receiving situations.

An injury could shake up a team’s setup, but underperformance early in camp could as well. A number of teams could benefit from Allen, who is two years removed from averaging a career-high 95.6 receiving yards per game. Even on a disjointed Bears offense that featured two play-callers (and two Thomas Brown promotions), Allen churned out 744 yards and seven touchdown grabs in 15 games. The former Charger dynamo makes sense as a complementary option.

That said, Allen indicated early this year he would not want to play a 13th season in most of the NFL’s locales. He listed a Bears signing or a Los Angeles return as optimal, pointing to retirement if such a fit did not materialize. The Rams signed Davante Adams weeks after Allen’s comments, and they have the recently re-signed Tutu Atwell in place as a No. 3 option. The Bears drafted Luther Burden to pair with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, effectively finding a cheaper option after trading for Allen last March.

Jim Harbaugh did not close the door on circling back to Allen, though the second-year Chargers HC did not sound overly eager on that front. But the recently re-signed Mike Williams has since retired, opening a spot for a Ladd McConkey supplementary target. Allen regularly operated in the slot in Los Angeles and San Diego, though, potentially providing a complication due to McConkey’s skillset. Allen also did not leave L.A. on great terms, as the Bolts offered to keep him at a reduced rate before the trade.

A year later, he would not command close to the $20MM per year he was earning. The Chargers also drafted two receivers (Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith) following Harbaugh’s Allen comment. Quentin Johnston also lingers as an option, but the Bolts struggled to find non-McConkey aerial answers last season.

Allen would enter a 13th season having posted six 1,000-yard slates en route to six Pro Bowls. The Broncos came up as a potentially interested party in April, but they used a third-round pick on Pat Bryant. Allen would stand to give the team a refined Courtland Sutton sidekick, however; Marvin Mims‘ gadget presence notwithstanding, the team may lack such a piece presently. As it stands, though, Allen is unsigned. It will be interesting to see if he has expanded his list of acceptable destinations, seeing as the Chicago and L.A. routes may not materialize.

Chargers Open To Keenan Allen Reunion

April 3rd, 2025 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins are off the market, three accomplished 30-somethings remain available at wide receiver. Amari Cooper, Tyler Lockett and Keenan Allen are still unattached. Allen looks to be in play for a reunion, despite a 2024 Chargers divorce.

Jim Harbaugh said (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) at the league meetings the Chargers and Allen renewing their partnership “would be cool,” labeling another agreement as possible. Even after reuniting with Mike Williams, the Chargers look to have a need at receiver alongside new No. 1 target Ladd McConkey.

Allen did not exactly leave Los Angeles on good terms, having been blindsided by the team’s pay-cut request — as the team attempted to reach cap compliance, in an effort that included Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack pay reductions — and then traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. But the 12-year veteran, who sits behind only Antonio Gates in Bolts history in receptions and receiving yards, was believed to be amenable to a Chargers return. Late last season, a report emerged tying Allen only to a return to Chicago, L.A. or retirement. No close connections between Allen and another team have surfaced, even though the Broncos were mentioned as a potential fit.

The Rams filled their WR need by replacing Kupp with Adams, and the Bears did not make a known effort to re-sign the 2024 trade pickup before he hit free agency. Allen is going into an age-33 season, winding down a quality career that has included six 1,000-yard seasons — including 1,243 in 2023. The crafty route runner is coming off a 744-yard year despite being on a team that trudged through a turbulent year on offense.

It is worth wondering if Allen would make sense on the current Bolts, as McConkey took over as a promising slot receiver. Allen has functioned inside and outside during his career, but Popper notes the Chargers would benefit more from an outside player who could create space for McConkey. Citing the team’s current WR makeup, Popper doubts the Chargers would pay Allen a deal beyond $10MM per year. Allen signed two Bolts extensions (in 2016 and 2020) respectively worth $11.3MM and $20MM per annum. After not parting on the best of terms, it would be interesting to see if the former Chargers WR1 would consider a return at a significantly reduced rate.

Though, Allen likely would not command much more elsewhere due to teams turning their attention to the draft by this point. Allen and Lockett are unlikely to fetch the guarantees Adams ($26MM), Kupp ($17.5MM) and Diggs ($16.6MM) did. Both should find homes, should Allen want to keep playing, and it is worth noting Harbaugh described Justin Herbert as elated Williams was returning. Herbert was at the controls for two Allen 1,000-yard seasons, and it would make sense the QB would want him back as well. But the Chargers signing off on two 30-something WRs might be too much to ask.

Broncos Were Only Interested In Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs At Reduced Rate; Team Still In Veteran WR Market?

March 30th, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Rory Parks

Prior to his March release, the Broncos were reportedly uninterested in trading for former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp. Once Kupp became a free agent, though, there was said to be mutual interest in a Kupp-Denver relationship.

Nonetheless, Mike Klis of 9News.com hears the Broncos’ involvement in the Kupp sweepstakes was cursory at best, thanks largely to the receiver’s asking price. If the club could have landed the Super Bowl LVI MVP at a discounted rate, it might have done so. But once it became clear no discount would be forthcoming, Klis said Denver did not pursue Kupp (who ultimately signed a three-year, $45MM deal with the Seahawks).

The Broncos were never publicly connected to Stefon Diggs, whose reworked contract with the Texans expired at the end of the 2024 season. Klis says the club would have been interested in Diggs if he could have been had at a discount, but as was the case with Kupp, it soon became apparent the four-time Pro Bowler was not interested in a pillow contract. And he did not need to be, as he recently signed a three-year, $69MM accord with the Patriots.

To be clear, Klis is not suggesting Denver was motivated by frugality here. Head coach Sean Payton said back in February that he felt more highly of his cadre of wideouts than some league observers, and assuming that was not simply coach-speak, it stands to reason that the club would not overextend itself for 30-something WRs who are dealing with recent injury and production concerns.

The team was prioritizing a tight end upgrade, and it accomplished that goal by scooping up Jaguars cap casualty Evan Engram, who should provide a notable boost to the passing game. Plus, even though their Kupp and Diggs interest did not get past the preliminary stage, the fact that they made inquiries at all suggests to Klis that the Broncos – Payton’s comments notwithstanding – are still in the veteran receiver market. Which makes sense, given the lack of proven production on the team’s depth chart behind WR1 Courtland Sutton.

In Klis’ estimation, Keenan Allen and Elijah Moore are two of the most logical free agents for Denver to pursue, with Tyler Lockett representing another possibility. Adding a player like that would lessen the team’s urgency to select a wideout early in April’s draft while also providing a worthy complement to Sutton and breakout candidate Marvin Mims.

Bears Open To Letting Keenan Allen, Teven Jenkins Depart In Free Agency?

February 17th, 2025 at 8:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wideout Keenan Allen and guard Teven Jenkins headline the list of pending free agents for the Bears. A departure on the open market in both cases would not come as a surprise.

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin writes neither player is a suitable candidate for the franchise tag, which Chicago used last year on Jaylon Johnson before a four-year extension was worked out. Rather than making a fully-guaranteed commitment in the case of Allen or Jenkins, Cronin notes to no surprise a likelier outcome would see both of them depart in free agency. For the former, that would lead to increased speculation about a return to Los Angeles.

It was reported in January that Allen would only continue his career if he re-signed with the Bears or took a deal with the Chargers or Rams. The six-time Pro Bowler spent the first 11 years of his career with the Bolts, but the trade which sent him to the Windy City came after a restructure agreement could not be reached. Allen wanted to continue with the Chargers, and the potential for a reunion would make for an interesting storyline if no new Bears deal were to be signed.

Allen (who changed agents this summer) would welcome a Chicago contract, and with a 70-744-7 statline from 15 games in 2024 he could remain a starter on the team’s offense moving forward. The Bears already have D.J. Moore on the books, though, and 2024 No. 9 pick Rome Odunze will be counted on to handle a major role for the foreseeable future. Chicago could therefore look to devote cap resources elsewhere this spring.

The Bears are near the top of the list in terms of projected cap space for free agency, but upgrading along the offensive line represents an obvious priority. Jenkins has played a starting role for the unit when healthy over the past three years, seeing time at right guard in 2022 before splitting his time at both guard spots the following year. The 26-year-old worked exclusively at the LG position in 2024.

Drafted as a long-term tackle investment, Jenkins has drawn strong PFF evaluations since he moved inside. The Oklahoma State product approached Chicago about an extension, but to no avail. Injuries have been a consistent issue in his case, with 23 games being missed as a result of different ailments across his first four years in the league. That represents an understandable reason for pause on the Bears’ part as they consider their O-line options.

Aside from right tackle (thanks to 2023 first-rounder Darnell Wright), every starting spot up front is at least something of a question mark for Chicago at this point. Multiple additions to the unit over the coming months would not come as a surprise, and Trey Smith – the top interior blocker set to reach free agency – is a name to watch with former Chiefs staffer Ryan Poles in place as general manager. Making a lucrative move for a guard would signal a likelihood of Jenkins departing.

Quarterback Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson will face high expectations regarding the Bears’ offense for 2025. That will be the case regardless of if Allen or Jenkins are retained, but it will be interesting to see how the team proceeds on both fronts.

Keenan Allen Only Open To Playing In Chicago, Los Angeles In 2025

January 3rd, 2025 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Keenan Allen changed agents this offseason; his new representation will have an interesting task ahead. One of the biggest names on track for free agency at wide receiver, Allen does not sound interested in a true open market. Ahead of what would be his age-33 season, the decorated wideout is only open to landing in two cities.

Allen only wants to continue his career with the Bears or in Los Angeles, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. The perennial Pro Bowler joined the Bears in a contract year, and the team is set for a transition. It is interesting that Allen will keep the door open to a Chicago signing, as the GM who acquired him (Ryan Poles) will be back. Allen said early last month he wanted to re-sign with the Bears, but family reasons have kept the L.A. door open.

Clarifying Allen’s L.A. stance, Finley notes the 12-year veteran would be open to returning to the Chargers or joining the Rams. Allen’s family still lives in Southern California; they would relocate if he re-signed with the Bears. It would be interesting to see if another team could change the veteran’s mind, as sticking to this three-teams-or-bust route would significantly limit his options. As it stands, however, Allen is not preparing to be a true free agent — even though he has never been on the open market previously.

The Chargers and Allen experienced a memorable fallout, with the team attempting to reduce the wideout’s pay early during the Jim Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz run. An extension offer made would have led to a reduction on Allen’s $20MM-per-year deal; he is instead playing out the contract with the Bears. Prior to being traded, Allen had expressed hope of finishing his career with the Bolts.

Allen experienced steady success with Justin Herbert targeting him and trails only Antonio Gates in receiving yards with the now-L.A.-based franchise. The former San Diego draftee is one of the best players in team history, though based on what transpired this past offseason, expecting a big-ticket contract offer from the Bolts may be unrealistic.

The Cal alum made it clear he has not decided on playing a 13th NFL season. This Bears campaign has brought a step back, as the team has made major changes while breaking in a rookie quarterback. Allen has topped 100 yards just once this season, entering Week 18 with 719 during Caleb Williams‘ rookie year. The Bears had acquired Allen to help the No. 1 overall pick develop, but the team fired OC Shane Waldron weeks into his first season — as criticism from Allen and D.J. Moore surfaced — and has used pass-game coordinator-turned-OC-turned-interim HC Thomas Brown as its play-caller since. The Bears have not won a game since giving up a Hail Mary touchdown to the Commanders in Week 7.

Allen’s age already stood to limit his 2025 market, as a short-term deal would be likely — in the event the six-time Pro Bowler did not choose to retire. Tee Higgins is set to headline the 2025 WR class — if the Bengals do not reapply the franchise tag — while the likes of Chris Godwin, Marquise Brown, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Diontae Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and Brandin Cooks in a mostly veteran-heavy crop that also includes ex-Allen sidekick Mike Williams, who has not made much of an impact in his first post-Chargers season.

The Bears gave Moore a long-term deal this summer and used a top-10 pick on Rome Odunze, likely limiting where they would go for Allen. The Chargers have centered their receiving corps around second-round sensation Ladd McConkey, who became the first Chargers wideout since Allen to post 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. Harbaugh’s team needs help here, however, especially with Josh Palmer headed to free agency.

It is unclear how interested the Rams would be, having passed on a Cooper Kupp trade and seeing Puka Nacua become one of the NFL’s best pass catchers. Sean McVay‘s team eyeing Allen as a complementary piece would be something to monitor, Allen Robinson‘s Chicago-to-L.A. faceplant notwithstanding, especially if the quality route runner sticks to his California-or-Illinois plan.

Sitting 18th on the all-time receptions list (971) and 41st in yards (11,249), Allen probably needs to submit more to build a viable Hall of Fame case. It will be interesting to see if he passes on potential offers from non-Chicago or Los Angeles-based teams to ensure he continues his career on his terms.

Keenan Allen Wants To Remain With Bears

December 6th, 2024 at 9:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Keenan Allen‘s Chargers tenure came to an end this offseason when he was traded to the Bears. The veteran wideout said in June he would be open to a long-term Chicago contract, and that sentiment has not changed.

The 2024 campaign has not gone according to plan for the Bears, but recent weeks have showcased the team’s potential on offense with Caleb Williams at quarterback. Allen has played a central role in the Bears’ passing attack over the past three weeks, racking up 18 catches, 200 yards and three touchdowns during that span. The six-time Pro Bowler is a pending free agent, and continuing that production down the stretch would help his market value.

As The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain writes, though, Allen has expressed a desire to remain in Chicago beyond the current season (subscription required). The Bears sit at 4-8 on the season, and both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus have been dismissed. Allen and fellow wideout D.J. Moore were among the players who spoke out against Waldron after he was let go, and the offense has improved under Thomas Brown. Brown is now in place as interim head coach, but he will retain play-calling duties down the stretch.

Allen changed agents this offseason after his inability to land a new Chargers deal played a central role in the trade which sent him to the Windy City. The six-time Pro Bowler is on track to reach a free agent market expected to be headlined at the WR position by Tee Higgins, and at the age of 32 Allen does not figure to receive much interest in a long-term accord from any suitor. The Bears also have Moore on the books through 2029 along with first-round rookie Rome Odunze as a projected staple on offense for the foreseeable future.

In spite of that, Allen’s status as a veteran presence on an otherwise young Bears offense carries weight. If he manages to remain productive over the closing weeks of the campaign, the team (set to be near the top of the league in 2025 cap space) could entertain talks on a new deal. From Allen’s perspective, at least, that would be a desirable outcome.

D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen Address Shane Waldron’s Bears Dismissal

November 14th, 2024 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Matt Eberflus has now fired two offensive coordinators this year. The OC he canned in January (Luke Getsy) is already out as the Raiders’ play-caller, a move that came shortly before the Bears booted Shane Waldron.

It seems doubtful Eberflus would be allowed to hire a third OC, as the third-year HC’s job is almost definitely on the line. It may come down to interim play-caller Thomas Brown‘s performance, with a Caleb Williams second-half resurgence perhaps the only lifeline Eberflus has left. The Bears have not seen Williams progress since showing flashes earlier this season, and the No. 1 overall pick has not clicked with the team’s two veteran wide receiver starters.

D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen have combined for 10 1,000-yard seasons in their careers; neither player is at 400 after nine games this year. Moore leads the Bears with 398 receiving yards, dropping from 80.2 per game with Getsy and Justin Fields at the controls to 44.2 in the Waldron-Williams setup. Allen, who averaged a career-best 95.6 yards per game in his final Chargers season, is at just 34.4 through seven Bears contests. The older of the two accomplished Chicago vets deemed Waldron “too nice” to succeed this season.

“Too nice of a guy,” Allen said (via ESPN.com’s Kalyn Kahler) of Waldron. “OTAs, camp, we fell into a trap of letting things go and not holding people accountable, and that’s a slippery slope. Just professionalism and doing things the right way from the beginning.”

Allen and Moore have both worked with several OCs during their careers, respectively thriving in most of those systems. The Panthers trotted out a different primary QB1 in each of Moore’s five seasons with the team; he still posted three 1,100-yard seasons with Carolina. Allen enjoyed much better quarterback play, through Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert. Williams sits 29th in QBR, and Allen — who could certainly have used his Bears stay as a potential springboard to a viable Hall of Fame case — has seen his production nosedive.

Moore confirmed players shared frustrations about the offense but covered his bases by indicating he did not want to see Waldron fired. Though, the second-year Bears wideout publicly addressed some of the issues during Waldron’s brief stay.

“When we wanted a call, it was like a drive too late,” Moore said, via WGN Radio’s Kevin Wells. “Or when we wanted to make adjustments and we waited ’til halftime to make it. And then we don’t get the same look.”

Waldron, 45, received immediate interest once the Seahawks let Pete Carroll‘s contracted assistants search for other jobs this offseason; these comments will certainly factor into Waldron’s 2025 job search. Waldron interviewed with the Patriots and Saints before signing on with the Bears. The Bears’ wide-ranging interview process included coaches who became coordinators elsewhere. Liam Coen (Buccaneers), Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders), Klint Kubiak (Saints), Zac Robinson (Falcons), Greg Roman (Chargers) met about the job. The Chargers blocked Kellen Moore from a meeting about the job; Moore ended up as the Eagles’ OC once the Bolts eventually let him out of his contract.

Kingsbury held intel on Williams, being USC’s QBs coach last season, but SI.com’s Albert Breer indicates that interview felt more like Bears brass gathering information on their next quarterback than interviewing Kingsbury for the gig. The Raiders offered Kingsbury their OC job, but it went to Getsy after the former Cardinals HC backed out due to the AFC West team not guaranteeing a third-year salary. The Commanders quickly swooped in.

Waldron, however, was hired January 22 — before any of the above-referenced 2024 OCs landed jobs. Chicago striking first with Waldron and then firing him nine games in obviously presents a bad look for Eberflus, who evaded a firing last year but dismissed Getsy and a few offensive staffers in preparation for Williams’ arrival. Counting Brown, the Bears have employed seven OCs since 2015. It looks more likely than not the Bears, who do not fire HCs in-season, will be conducting a head coaching search come January.

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