Bears star player named to 'top 30 over 30' NFL list

Football players—unlike fine wines—do not typically get better with age. Aside from positions like quarterback or kicker, most players see their performance decline after hitting 30. Pro Football Focus recently compiled a list of players who have defied Father Time, and new Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen made the cut.

Here's why PFF believes Allen is one of the Top 30 players over 30.

«When healthy, Allen is one of the best route-runners in the game and provides a reliable threat for his quarterback,» wrote John Kosko. «He has graded north of 81.7 as a receiver in six of the past seven years.»

Whether or not you trust PFF's grades, it's clear that Allen has remained one of the NFL's top players despite his «advanced» age. A big reason for Allen's continued dominance is his exceptional route-running. Allen excels as a technician, working precisely to get open. He's never relied solely on speed to outpace corners, so he hasn't had to worry about «losing a step.» Allen's attention to detail and sound techniques remain strong despite his age.

In fact, Allen had one of his best seasons in 2023—his 11th in the league. Last year, Allen set a career-high with 108 catches in just 13 games. His 1,243 yards were the second-most in his career. Allen also scored seven touchdowns, just behind the eight touchdowns he scored in 2013 and 2020.

Over his 11 seasons with the Chargers, Allen caught 904 passes for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns. Allen is a six-time Pro Bowler and won Comeback Player of the Year in 2017 after returning to form following an ACL injury in Week 1 of the 2016 season.

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