Ben Johnson’s introduction to the Chicago Bears as the team’s new head coach wasn’t the only notable NFL news that dropped on Wednesday.
Khalil Mack, who told reporters he was unsure about his future after the Los Angeles Chargers’ playoff loss at the hands of the Houston Texans on wild-card weekend, has apparently found some clarity. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the star pass-rusher plans on playing in 2025:
This is what Khalil Mack had to say after the Chargers’ loss, which cast some doubt on whether he would return for his 12th season in the NFL:
“Man, it’s a lot of different thoughts in my head right now. I can’t really speak on a definitive decision in terms of what I’m going to do because I don’t know if I’m going to play football moving forward, so there’s some things I got to talk through with my wife, spend some time with my kids and try not to make a rash decision after a loss.”
“I can’t make this situation about myself, man, even though selfishly you feel like, ‘Damn,’ you know what I’m saying? ‘This was the one.'”
Mack is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. Earlier in January, Mack shared his belief that his best chance to win was to stick with Los Angeles. Considering what the Chargers have at head coach with Jim Harbaugh and at quarterback with Justin Herbert, I can understand why he feels that way. However, I would welcome a Khalil Mack reunion in Chicago. We can call it the “Return of the Mack” Tour. Start printing the t-shirts!
Keeping an open mind when it comes to a Khalil Mack offseason pursuit
If you haven’t been keeping up with what Khalil Mack has done since being traded from the Bears in 2022, let’s catch you up:
- Has played in 50 of 51 possible games
- Collected 31 sacks and 49 quarterback hits
- Compiled 39 tackles-for-loss
- Forced nine fumbles
- Made three Pro Bowls
- Earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2024
Gosh, if only the Bears had a player like that on their defense the last three years…
Let me be clear. I fully understood why General Manager Ryan Poles made the trade he did to send Khalil Mack off to the Los Angeles Chargers. Dealing Mack was the first domino to fall in the tear-down of the tattered remains of a team left behind by Poles’ predecessor, Ryan Pace. Getting Mack’s contract off the books and netting a second-round pick in return was a thrifty move that made sense for the Bears at the time. Now, Chicago’s football team is looking for someone like Mack to fill a void at defensive end. Sometimes, I feel as if time is a flat circle.
MORE: Khalil Mack Discussing His Time With the Bears Will Hit You Right in the Feels
I do not know if Khalil Mack is a perfect fit for the Bears this offseason. However, I do know that Chicago (1) needs to upgrade at the defensive end position, (2) has an estimated $66 million in available cap space (h/t OverTheCap) to work with this offseason, and (3) could be aggressive in addressing its needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Additionally, a Mack reunion story would be fun to follow. I am a sucker for fun stories. And if the Bears can pull of a move that could be equal parts practical and popular, then they should do it.
Plus, think about all the Bears fans who have Khalil Mack jerseys buried in their closets that can be brought out to see the light of day again.
The “legal tampering” period of NFL free agency opens on March 10. During the two-day window, teams and representatives represented unrestricted free agents can chop it up and iron out handshake agreements on new deals. When this portal opens, I hope the Bears find a way to prioritize making impact signings on both sides of the line of scrimmage. We already know that the offensive line is going to be a priority, but that doesn’t mean we should forget about the defensive side of things.