WESTFIELD, Ind. — Keenan Allen didn’t need a middleman, at least not initially. The trust between the veteran wide receiver and Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen was built years ago during a seven-season stint together with the Chargers. They’d kept in touch even after parting ways, including this offseason, when their conversations slowly shifted from catching up to possibly catching passes from Colts quarterback Daniel Jones.“It’s been a little bit of back and forth,” Allen said Wednesday during his introductory news conference. “Just me and (Steichen) personally — without the agent.”Allen kept the specific timeline of his conversations with Steichen private, though it’s no secret his fondness for the coach was a big factor in his decision to join the Colts. Of course, an agent was eventually roped in when Indianapolis landed Allen on a one-year deal.Colts sign Keenan AllenJames BoydAllen said he had other suitors, which he did not disclose, but the chance to reunite with Steichen was too good an opportunity to pass up. They’ve always worked well together, evidenced by four of Allen’s six Pro Bowl nods occurring when Steichen was on the Chargers’ coaching staff. For two of those seasons, 2019 and 2020, Steichen served as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. The result: Allen totaled 2,191 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns and 204 receptions — trailing only former Houston Texans star DeAndre Hopkins for the most catches in the league during that span.“He’s a genius,” Allen said of Steichen. “… He knows the game. He knows the ins and outs, and the way that he knows the game, I know the game, as well. That’s kind of how I was raised in the NFL world.”It’s been six years since Allen and Steichen were on the same team, but despite all the time that’s passed, Allen believes they won’t miss a beat mentally or, perhaps more importantly for the 14-year veteran, physically. Last year, Allen collected 777 yards and four touchdowns on 81 catches with the Chargers, the most receptions by any receiver age 33 or older in the NFL. Asked how he’s continued to get open at this stage of his career, Allen joked that it wasn’t because of any next-level physical trait.“Starting off, my rookie year, I was slow,” said the now 34-year-old Allen, who ran a 4.71-second 40-yard dash during his pro day in 2013. “So, I guess I haven’t lost no speed.”Steichen gave Allen a little more credit. After all, he is one of just 18 players in NFL history who have tallied 1,000 receptions. In fact, Allen is only 16 catches away from passing Colts legend and current wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne for the 11th-most catches in NFL history.“The way he plays, and the feel he has for the game … he’s the most cerebral receiver I’ve ever been around,” Steichen said. “He sees the game like a quarterback. How to run routes, how to attack leverage, how he sees coverage … He’s seen so many different looks, and it’s like clockwork for him in his brain, so having that at that position as you get older, really helps you in the long run.”Steichen said he wasn’t worried about how Allen will fit in with the rest of the Colts’ pass catchers, led by the trio of Alec Pierce, Josh Downs and Tyler Warren. Warren is entering his second season in Indy after notching the third-most receiving yards (817) by a rookie tight end in franchise history in 2025. Pierce and Downs headline the Colts’ receiver room, with Allen likely slotting in as the team’s third starting wideout. He’s poised to replace Michael Pittman Jr., who led the Colts in catches four of the past five years before Indy traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the spring.When pressed further on the potential redundancy of Allen and Downs in particular, since both have thrived in the slot, Steichen again pushed back on any issues. Allen led the NFL with 34 receptions on third down last year, with 29 turning into first downs. Of Downs’ 21 third-down receptions last year, the most of any Colts player, 20 accounted for first downs. From Steichen’s perspective, Indy’s offense can only benefit by adding another player known for moving the chains.