Keenan Allen called his own number — and now he stands alone in franchise history.

The Chargers wide receiver hauled in catch No. 956 with the Bolts on Sunday night, etching himself into history as the all-time receptions leader ahead of former teammate Antonio Gates.

And it almost didn't happen until he brought the idea to Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and the staff heading into the final offensive drive of the game.

"At the end of the game, we're up by a lot of points so I was like, 'Hey, can we just do a speed here or something?' Let's just get it out of the way," Allen said postgame while referring to a jet sweep.

He later added: "I'm like, 'Hey, just run a speed.' It's probably the easiest catch I can get. It's like a guaranteed catch. They actually called me a genius."

The stage was set for Chargers franchise history.

"He's got family here and wanted to do it in front of the home crowd," Harbaugh said. "A great idea and we went for it."

After recovering an onside kick, Allen went in motion as Justin Herbert took the snap and dropped the pass off perfectly for the veteran, setting a new mark in the record books.

Allen got up after the play and was mobbed by his teammates as the SoFi Stadium crowd gave an ovation to the new record holder.

"A catch is a catch," Allen said. "The two catches were hard enough to get already. We had a couple plays that should have been gimmes, but the defense played them well."

Allen passed Gates, who racked up 955 career catches with the Chargers during his 16-year Hall of Fame career. Allen hit the mark in 87 fewer games.

It's been an eventful return to the Bolts for the 33-year-old, who recorded his 1,000th career catch earlier this season and also joined the exclusive 400-400 club as the only player in NFL history with at least 400 catches from two different quarterbacks.

But in terms of accolades, this one is near the top.

"This has got to be up there with the 10,000 yards," Allen said. "Those are milestones that not a lot of people reach. Even the greats, they don't even reach those type of things, but we were able to do it.

"Hats off Antonio. And Philip [Rivers], Herbo, throwing the ball," Allen added. "I appreciate those guys."

The celebration of Allen continued into the locker room as the team was fired up to witness franchise history.

His impact on the franchise makes the moment that much sweeter.

"Just very fortunate to have him," Herbert said. "He's a true pro and he's taught me so much about the game. To have a guy like that teaching the receivers, hanging out with quarterbacks, talking routes, I think his understanding of the game is second to none. Nobody deserves it more than him."

Harbaugh added: "You think about all of the Chargers [pass catchers] with Antonio Gates and everybody … just blessed and it feels great to be a part of it."

And to those who have seen him as the years have passed, there was extra emotion him reach the top of the leaderboard.

"It means a lot. I remember a young Keenan Allen and he's still doing the same thing now," said Denzel Perryman, Allen's teammate of sevens seasons. "Just to see him stay consistent over the years, him and I are now older and getting up there in age. But he hasn't slowed down and it's honestly amazing."

Derwin James, Jr., another teammate of seven seasons, added: "To now see it come full [circle ... he's the No. 1 player in Chargers history [in receptions]. Until somebody else comes break it, they won't be able to come take it from him. A lot of respect, that's my brother."

In 149 games in the powder blue, Allen has set a new mark in Chargers franchise history.

It's a testament to the longevity it's taken to get there, as it is far from a coincidence he now stands alone at the top.

"It's just hats off to the work, you know? I'm always putting in the work in the offseason," Allen said. "You know, we're not too loud with it.

"We don't post everything, but the work is definitely put in so when we are in those situations, nothing's new, everything is normal, everything is kind of slowed down in a sense," Allen continued.

Allen later added: "I think that was the best part. Through it all, being with the guys, seeing their emotions, making it a special moment."