Keenan Allen’s family is still digesting Thursday’s whirlwind series of events.
Shortly after the Chargers announced they’re trading the standout receiver to the Bears for a fourth-round draft pick, Allen’s wife, Ciandra Monique, thanked fans for their support over the past 11 seasons in an emotional message.
“Thank you to the fans we’ve encountered over the years,” Ciandra began Thursday in an Instagram Story.
“I’m still processing this but one thing for sure it was always TEAM KEENAN ALLEN.”
A third-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Allen tallied 904 receptions for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns throughout his tenure with the Chargers and reached six Pro Bowls.
“What Keenan Allen has meant to the Chargers for more than a decade cannot adequately be expressed through mere words,” the Chargers said in a statement.
“Keenan’s impact lives in the hearts of our fans, in the communities which he has served and amongst the countless teammates who have formed a brotherhood with him. There will only be one Keenan Allen, and we cannot thank him enough for the contributions he has made to our organization both on and off the field.”
Allen, who was slated to be a $34.71 million cap hit, was approached by the Chargers about a pay cut on Thursday, which he declined, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The trade comes a month after Allen, 31, told reporters that he “absolutely” saw himself in Los Angeles in 2024.
“I don’t see myself going anywhere,” he said at the 2024 Pro Bowl in early February.
Allen wasn’t the only playmaker the Chargers parted ways with this week.
Running back Austin Ekeler agreed to a two-year deal with the Commanders as NFL free agency got underway while the team released fellow wide receiver Mike Williams on Wednesday.
When he eventually takes the field in Chicago, Allen will have the support of wife Ciandra and their four children.
The Allens tied the knot in 2022.
