The Chicago Bears desperately need to bolster their pass rush after being tied for the seventh-fewest sacks (35) last season. They might be so desperate that they could make a run at 35-year-old Khalil Mack, who's already familiar with the city, and even at his age, he'd be an upgrade over their current unit.
Unfortunately, they may not get an actual shot at a reunion this offseason. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Los Angeles Chargers are prioritizing re-signing Mack to keep him in town for a little longer.
"Chargers legend Khalil Mack, one of the top edges available, will play in 2026, sources say. At the age of 35, coming off a strong season, Mack is a priority for LA," Rapoport wrote on X. "Instead of retirement, Mack is back exploring all options and will be a big-time target in free agency."
Chargers Could Throw a Wrench Into Bears' Khalil Mack Dreams
Mack agreed to take a pay cut to stay in Los Angeles last offseason. That shows he's confident in the team and likes their chances to compete. Now, with a revamped coaching staff after former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's departure, he might feel even better.
Also, money could be a major issue here. According to OverTheCap, the Bears are currently $7.1 million over the salary cap. The Chargers, on the other hand, have a staggering $84.4 million in available cash to spend, which is a major difference.
Mack is clearly not the player he used to be. He had just 5.5 sacks in 12 games last season, dealing with an elbow injury that forced him to miss a month. That said, some of his struggles might also be related to Minter's system.
He went from logging 17.0 sacks in 2023 to combining for just 11.5 over the past two years. So, even though age was clearly a factor, he might feel like he can do better now that Minter took the Baltimore Ravens' head coaching position.
The Bears have some promising pieces like Austin Booker and Montez Sweat, but they clearly need to revamp their front seven if they want to replicate this year's success. The fact that only four Bears had three or more sacks — with one of them being safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson — can't be ignored.
With Mack not likely to be up for grabs anymore, general manager Ryan Poles will have to get extremely creative to find some alternatives, with other aging stars like Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa, and Leonard Floyd other names worth monitoring.
Nothing is guaranteed until pen is put to paper, but with the way that the rumor mill is churning, any dreams the Bears might have of reuniting with Mack could be dead before free agency even begins.