Keenan Allen had a very blunt (but fair!) explanation for why the Chargers eventually traded him to the Bears

Keenan Allen’s arrival on the Chicago Bears has sparked a newfound wave of excitement around the team as they presumably prepare to draft Caleb Williams in April’s NFL Draft. But the six-time Pro Bowl receiver probably never becomes a Bear without some candid contract conversations with his ex-team, the Los Angeles Chargers.

As Allen explained during his introductory Bears press conference, when the Chargers approached him about restructuring his contract, his answer to his former employer wasn’t emotional. The 31-year-old playmaker said he bluntly told them it wasn’t happening because he was coming off one of his best statistical seasons. That’s it.

Put another way: Allen does not play around with his money. At all.

As a result, instead of almost cutting Allen, the Chargers eventually found the Bears to be a willing trade partner.

Looks like it was an easy decision for Keenan pic.twitter.com/7K74xfFmi2

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) March 18, 2024

Anyone who’s ever had a job can probably relate to Allen.

Why take a pay cut or move around money you’re owed in writing just to help your employer, especially after you performed well? It doesn’t really make sense, and it makes even less sense in the NFL, where players have an extremely finite amount of time and energy to make their money.

Good for Allen for sticking up for himself. I’m sure the Bears are also overjoyed that he did.