Brian Allen’s future in the NFL was uncertain after the 2019 season. He was coming off a serious knee injury and when he was starting before getting hurt, he struggled to hold up in the middle of the Rams’ offensive line.

But after recovering in 2020, he was thrust back into his starting role, replacing Austin Blythe. It was a display of trust from the Rams after passing on centers in the draft, and their bet paid off with Allen turning in a terrific 2021 campaign.

His reemergence couldn’t have come at a better time, either, with his contract expiring this March. Despite having the chance to explore the market, Allen re-signed with the Rams almost immediately after the legal tampering period began.

That was his primary goal from the start.

“Once free agency started, I really just want to get back there,” Allen said, via the Rams’ official site. “So, glad it’s over. Glad I am committed to playing football with the guys for three more years, and being somewhere where I have some familiarity and just people that I love being around and love going to work with.”

Allen said free agency was “definitely more stressful” than he anticipated, but he’s obviously thrilled to be back in Los Angeles where he began his career four years ago as a third-round pick in 2018.