NFL rumors: Khalil Mack staying with Chargers, nixing Bears reunion
Khalil Mack returned to his former team – unfortunately for Bears fans, it was not their team.
The nine-time Pro Bowler inked a $1-year, $18 million fully guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday morning, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
There had been speculation on social media of Mack returning to Soldier Field with the Bears in 2025 considering the Bears are in the market for a pash rusher. Mack instead will go back to the Chargers, a team he has spent the last three seasons with after being traded there from Chicago in 2022.
Mack will be entering his 12th season in the NFL after being the 5th overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft. In his four seasons in Oakland the edge rusher accumulated 40.5 sacks and 9 forced fumbles in 64 games. He made 3 Pro Bowls as well as winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
The Bears acquired Mack in a blockbuster trade just before the 2018 season. Mack spent four seasons with the Bears — leading a defensive group in 2018 that helped clinch Chicago’s first NFC North title since 2010. As a Bear, Mack racked up 36.0 sacks while earning Pro Bowl honors in three separate seasons.
Following the 2021 season, the Bears fired head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace, signaling the start of a rebuild at Halas Hall. Recently hired GM Ryan Poles traded Mack to the Chargers (as well as a 2022 6th-round pick) for a 2022 2nd-round pick that turned into safety Jaquan Brisker.
Mack has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in Los Angeles. The star saw a drop in production in 2024, amassing only 6.0 sacks in 16 games compared to his 17.0 sacks in 2023.