Chargers WR Keenan Allen fastest in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions

Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career receptions during Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders.

Allen’s second catch of the game — a 4-yarder from Justin Herbert in the second quarter — was No. 1,000 and it came in his 159th career game. The previous record was held by Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, who caught his 1,000th pass in his 167th game.

He finished the game with five catches — bringing his total to 1,003 — for a team-high 58 receiving yards in a 27-10 loss that dropped the Chargers to 3-2.

Allen became the 16th player in NFL history to haul in at least 1,000 catches. He and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are the only active players in this club. The Baltimore Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins (991 catches in 183 games) and the Los Angeles Rams’ Davante Adams (979 receptions in 169 games) are next in line.

Allen, 33, is in his 13rd season, 12 coming with the Chargers.

He played four seasons in San Diego (2013-16) before the franchise moved to the north. The Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears following the 2023 season, but he returned to the Chargers as a free agent last March.

Allen, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has five seasons of 100-plus catches and five campaigns of more than 1,000 receiving yards during his career.

Recent Hall of Fame inductee Antonio Gates is the Chargers’ leader with 955 career receptions. Allen entered Sunday with 928 catches with the franchise. He had 70 in his lone season with the Bears.