Keenan Allen is newest star to return to outdated stomping grounds
There’s nothing like going again to the place it began.
Keenan Allen is returning to the Los Angeles Chargers, the franchise introduced on Tuesday. Allen spent his first 11 NFL seasons with the Chargers, racking up 10,530 receiving yards, the second-most in franchise historical past. He additionally caught 59 touchdowns, the third-most for a Charger. The six-time Professional Bowler spent the 2024 marketing campaign with the Chicago Bears.
Allen is not the primary — or the final — star to return to the crew the place they rose to prominence. This is a take a look at different stars throughout U.S. skilled sports activities since 2000 who returned to their outdated stomping grounds.
NFL
Charles Woodson, then-Oakland Raiders
First stint: 1998-2005
Second stint: 2013-2015
The Corridor of Fame defensive again turned the second-highest defensive participant to be chosen when the Raiders took him at No. 4 in 1998. Woodson made that call look sensible immediately.
He was a Professional Bowl choice for 4 straight seasons, received AP Defensive Rookie of the 12 months and earned All-Professional first-team honors as soon as. He additionally had a key function within the franchise reaching the Tremendous Bowl in 2002. The 29-year-old Woodson signed with the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2006.
The Heisman winner spent seven seasons in Inexperienced Bay earlier than returning to play for the Raiders. Woodson performed three extra years for Oakland earlier than retiring in 2016.
James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
First stint: 2002, 2004-2012
Second stint: 2014-2017
One of many biggest undrafted NFL gamers in historical past, Harrison established himself among the many recreation’s high linebackers whereas with the Steelers. Harrison was a member of two Tremendous Bowl-winning squads, and in addition received the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award in 2008.
He left for the divisional rival Cincinnati Bengals in 2013 then formally retired on the Steelers facility on Sept. 5, 2014. However weeks later, he signed a deal to return to the franchise.
Pittsburgh launched the linebacker in December 2017 and he subsequently signed with the New England Patriots earlier than retiring following the season.
Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings
First stint: 1998-2004
Second stint: 2010
Moss electrified the Vikings after being chosen at No. 21 within the 1998 NFL draft. He led the league with 17 touchdowns and in addition averaged 19 yards per reception as a rookie, aiding the franchise in reaching their first NFC Championship Recreation because the 1987 season.
The Vikings traded Moss to the Raiders in 2005 and the Corridor of Fame receiver bounced across the league earlier than being dealt again to Minnesota in the course of the 2010 season. He suited up for 4 video games earlier than the franchise waived him.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
First stint: 2011-2019
Second stint: 2021
Newton began robust, profitable Offensive Rookie of the 12 months with the Panthers. 4 years later, he led the franchise to Tremendous Bowl 50 throughout his MVP-winning season — and stays the one Carolina participant to win the award.
His time with the Panthers wound down as the last decade closed. Newton signed with the New England Patriots in July 2020 after the franchise launched him in March. He re-signed with New England the next 12 months earlier than being launched earlier than coaching camp.
Newton returned to Carolina in November 2021, beginning 5 video games.
MLB
First stint: 2015-2021
Second stint: 2025-Current
Houston chosen Correa within the first spherical of the 2012 MLB draft and he spent seven seasons with the crew. A 2017 World Sequence champion, he ranks high 4 in franchise postseason historical past in hits (82), residence runs (18) and RBIs (59), in line with ESPN Analysis. Correa returned to Houston after the franchise acquired him from the Minnesota Twins on the 2025 MLB commerce deadline.
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
First stint: 2001-2011
Second stint: 2022
Pujols had a legendary first run with the Cardinals, profitable three NL MVP awards and two World Sequence over 10 years. He batted at the least .300 with 100 RBIs every season aside from one.
He signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2011 on a $254 million, 10-year deal, then the second-highest in MLB historical past. The Cardinals introduced him again earlier than the 2022 marketing campaign, which might see Pujols grow to be solely the fourth participant to hit 700 residence runs. He retired on the conclusion of the season.
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
First stint: 2001-2012
Second stint: 2018-2019
There may not ever be a greater debut season than Ichiro’s with the Mariners when he got here to MLB from Japan. He stays the one participant to win the MVP, Rookie of the 12 months, a Golden Glove and Silver Slugger award in the identical season. That arrange a run during which Ichiro constantly led the majors in hits, although he performed within the postseason solely as soon as with the Mariners (2001).
In July 2012, Seattle traded Ichiro to the New York Yankees, a transfer prompted by the star requesting a commerce. He performed with the Yankees after which the Miami Marlins, earlier than returning to the Mariners in 2018. He retired the next 12 months in Japan after showing within the abroad sequence towards the then-Oakland Athletics.
Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
First stint: 1989-1999
Second stint: 2009-2010
“The Child” made his mark within the majors nearly immediately. He earned All-Star honors in all however his rookie season with the Mariners throughout his first stint. Griffey hit at the least 40 residence runs in every of his closing 4 seasons, together with a league-high 56 in 1997 when he received AL MVP.
The Mariners dealt him to the Cincinnati Reds earlier than the 2000 season, reuniting him along with his father, Ken Griffey Sr., the Reds’ bench coach on the time. Griffey Jr. had grown up roaming the clubhouse as his dad performed for Cincinnati for his first 9 MLB seasons.
The Corridor of Famer returned to Seattle in 2009 the place he performed two extra seasons earlier than retiring.
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
First stint: 2009-2017
Second stint: 2023-present
McCutchen racked up accolades in his first run with the Pirates, incomes All-Star honors 5 occasions and profitable the NL MVP in 2013. He was additionally a four-time Silver Slugger throughout an early 2010s run and aided the franchise in breaking its two-decade postseason drought.
The Pirates traded McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants in 2018. The outfielder bounced across the league earlier than returning to Pittsburgh in 2023.
NBA
First stint: 2011-2017
Second stint: 2025-present
Throughout Paul’s first six seasons with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017, the crew posted a .658 win share over that span — tied with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder for the third greatest within the NBA, in line with ESPN Analysis. He averaged 18.8 factors, 9.8 assists and a couple of.2 steals per recreation throughout these six seasons because the Clippers made the playoffs every year.
He resigned with the franchise forward of his twenty first NBA season.
Damian Lillard, Portland Path Blazers
First stint: 2012-2023
Second stint: 2025-present
The sixth choose within the 2012 NBA draft, Lillard jumped on the scene to win Rookie of the 12 months, then common at the least 20 factors every season after. He has probably the most profession factors and 3-pointers in Path Blazers historical past, whereas rating second all-time in franchise historical past in assists.
Portland traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks earlier than the 2023-24 season, the place he averaged 24.6 factors, 7.0 assists and 4.6 rebounds in two seasons. He tore his Achilles in the course of the first spherical of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Milwaukee waived Lillard earlier in July and stretched his remaining deal to signal Myles Turner. That arrange Lillard finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract to return to the Portland Path Blazers.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
First stint: 2003-2010
Second stint: 2014-2018
James spent his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland after the franchise chosen him No. 1 within the 2003 draft. He received back-to-back MVPs and led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals in 2007 whereas averaging 27.8 factors, 7.0 rebounds and seven.0 assists.
In fact, he then famously introduced his resolution to depart the Cavaliers for the Miami Warmth in 2010 throughout an ESPN particular titled “The Resolution.” However 4 years later, after profitable two titles with the Warmth, he penned an essay asserting his return to the Cavaliers.
James fulfilled his promise of bringing a championship to the Cleveland by defeating the Golden State Warriors within the 2016 NBA Finals.
Dwyane Wade, Miami Warmth
First stint: 2003-2016
Second stint: 2017-2019
Wade established himself as among the finest guards within the league throughout a 13-year stretch with the Warmth. The franchise chosen him at No. 5 within the 2003 draft and Wade had a key function in Miami, serving to the crew win its first championship in 2006.
He received Finals MVP after averaging 34.7 factors, 7.8 rebounds and three.8 assists to defeat the Dallas Mavericks. Wade was additionally a outstanding member of Miami’s Large Three with James and Chris Bosh. They received back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013.
In 2016, Wade left Miami to signal along with his hometown Chicago Bulls however, in February 2018, the Warmth introduced again their franchise legend in a commerce, with Wade retiring the subsequent 12 months.
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
First stint: 1996-2006
Second stint: 2009-2010
“The Reply” was a drive in his first run with the 76ers, averaging 28 factors, 6.1 assists and a couple of.3 steals throughout 10 seasons. His 2001 MVP season included Philadelphia reaching the NBA Finals, the place it received Recreation 1 earlier than dropping to the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 video games.
Iverson turned a neighborhood legend in Philly, however not all tales have a contented ending. The franchise traded him to the Denver Nuggets in December 2006 after Iverson requested a commerce 11 days earlier.
In want of guard depth, the 76ers signed him on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract three years later. Iverson suited up in 25 video games for Philadelphia that season earlier than retiring.
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
First stint: 1995-2007
Second stint: 2014-2016
Earlier than the Anthony Edwards period in Minnesota, probably the most profitable stretch of basketball for the Timberwolves concerned Garnett. The ahead/middle got here to the Timberwolves when the franchise chosen him at No. 5 out of highschool within the 1995 NBA draft.
Garnett turned out to be among the finest all-around gamers within the league, averaging 20.5 factors and 11.4 rebounds throughout his first stint. He received the MVP award in 2004, making him the primary — and nonetheless the one — Timberwolves participant to earn that distinction.
After three straight seasons of lacking the postseason, Garnett was dealt to the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster commerce in the course of the 2007 offseason. He received a championship that upcoming season earlier than he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. The Timberwolves then traded for Garnett in February 2015 and he performed a season earlier than retiring the subsequent 12 months.
WNBA
DeWanna Bonner, Phoenix Mercury
First stint: 2009-2019
Second stint: 2025-present
After Phoenix drafted Bonner with the No. 5 choose within the 2009 WNBA draft, she rewarded the franchise with three straight Sixth Participant of the 12 months awards. In 2012, Bonner had a breakout season by averaging a career-high 20 factors per recreation. Two years later, she received her second championship with the Mercury.
The Connecticut Solar dealt three first-round picks in a sign-and-trade deal for Bonner in 2020. She signed with the Indiana Fever in 2025 earlier than the franchise opted to waive her in the course of the season, opening the door for Bonner to return to the Mercury.
Tina Charles, Connecticut Solar
First stint: 2010-2013
Second stint: 2025
Charles had a dominant first run in Connecticut, incomes All-Star honors every season and league MVP in 2012. She averaged 17.3 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks throughout a stretch during which the Solar reached the convention finals in consecutive seasons.
She spent her subsequent six seasons with the New York Liberty earlier than suiting up for 4 extra groups earlier than returning to Connecticut in 2025.
NHL
Teemu Selänne, Anaheim Geese
First stint: 1995-2001
Second stint: 2005-2014
Selanne did not begin his profession with the Geese — becoming a member of the membership in his fourth NHL season — however his first stint in Anaheim proved to be probably the most prolific of his profession. The Corridor of Fame winger posted 4 straight All-Star campaigns in his first 4 full seasons with the crew, together with 1998-99 when he turned the league’s inaugural Maurice Richard Trophy winner, awarded to the NHL’s main objective scorer.
The then-Mighty Geese would deal Selanne to the San Jose Sharks in 2001, the place he would spend a number of seasons earlier than signing with the Colorado Avalanche.
Selanne performed in Colorado for just one season, returning to Anaheim for the 2005-06 season. His comeback could be a fruitful one — Selanne’s second stint with the membership lasted 9 seasons, highlighted by a Stanley Cup in 2007.
Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders
First stint: 1997-2001
Second stint: 2021-2022
Although Chara is greatest identified for his 14-season run with the Boston Bruins, the Corridor of Fame defenseman performed the primary and final video games of his NHL profession with the New York Islanders.
Drafted by the Islanders in 1996, Chara suited up in 231 video games for New York throughout his first 4 seasons within the league earlier than being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2001. In 2021, after practically 20 years away from the membership, the 44-year-old Chara inked a one-year cope with the group that drafted him.
Chara would hold up the skates on the finish of the 2021-22 season, signing a one-day contract with Boston to formally retire a Bruin.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
First stint: 2001-2006
Second stint: 2013-2019
A distinguished goalkeeper who performed 19 seasons within the NHL, simply over half of Luongo’s time within the league was spent in Florida, unfold out over two tenures with the Panthers.
His first stint with the membership got here after he was traded to Florida by the New York Islanders after his first season. He would rise from rookie to stalwart throughout his time with the Panthers, earlier than finally being traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Seven and a half seasons later, Luongo returned to Florida in a full-circle second, being traded again to the membership from the Canucks. He’d play a number of extra seasons, surpassing 1,000 profession video games earlier than finally retiring as a Panther in 2019. In 2020, Luongo would grow to be the primary participant within the membership’s historical past to have his quantity retired.
