Former Chicago Bears pass rusher Khalil Mack is making headlines again this week, leaving some Los Angeles Chargers fans confused. The pass rusher was tagged in an Instagram story of Chargers safety Derwin James, which focused on the days of working with Mack. How you decipher this is subjective, with one Charger fan suggesting it was a possible hint at retirement. The more likely explanations are either that James is simply talking about the long summer ahead and missing spending time with his teammate, or it could be a tell that Mack isn't going to be in Los Angeles next year.
Already, there have been rumors of a return to Chicago, with Mack commenting on wanting to play for a champion. When considering the NFC's current landscape, it appears clear that the Bears are far closer to realizing this potential than Mack's Chargers team, rather than being stuck in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. It simply makes far too much sense for Mack to return to the Bears for both sides not to at least consider the possibility of the move in the 2026 offseason.
Mack is preparing to hit free agency, and more likely than a potential retirement is the defender opting to return to a team that clearly needs pass rush help and has championship aspirations. Even at this late stage of his career, the pass rusher remains productive, totaling 28.5 sacks over his last three seasons in Los Angeles. For the Bears, a reunion makes sense and offers the veteran a chance to chase a ring and serve as a leader on a loaded young roster.
Bears Continue to be Given Hope That Khalil Mack Offseason Reunion is Possible
The Bears are currently projected to have negative cap space, according to Over The Cap, making it a bit more difficult to see Mack landing with the franchise. However, there is always the option of pushing money into the future and making difficult roster cuts. Every vital piece on the roster is under contract for the 2026 season except for star safety Kevin Byard.
It is viable for the Bears to restructure key contracts and push money into the future, opening up enough cap space to re-sign Byard and pay Mack what it takes for the pass rusher to return to his former team. This seems an incredibly likely path based on Mack's past comments, the history between the two, and the fact that the Bears appear to be the most exciting young team in the league.
For Mack, the free agency decision is likely going to come down to who the pass rusher believes has the brightest future. If his priority isn't a payday but a chance to play meaningful football deep into January, this works in Chicago's favor as well.
No question, it seems that we are heading for a reunion with Mack returning to a team he is familiar with. The fact that, now, Chicago has a real chance to deliver the star defender the elusive Super Bowl ring he's been chasing only helps strengthen its case.