Why the Bears Should Bring Back Khalil Mack
As the Bears stare down the 2026 offseason, general manager Ryan Poles faces a familiar crossroads: how to turbocharge a defense that sputtered to just 35 sacks last season, tying for 22nd in the league.
The answer might lie in a reunion that’s equal parts nostalgia and necessity, with the franchise pursuing free-agent edge rusher Khalil Mack, the dominant force who once transformed this franchise.
At 35, Mack isn’t the untouchable phenom who earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2016, but his recent declaration to play a 13th NFL season opens the door for a sentimental yet strategic return to the Windy City.
Everyone knows who Khalil Mack is. Acquired in a blockbuster 2018 trade from the Raiders, he immediately elevated Chicago’s defense to elite status, racking up 12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and an interception returned for a touchdown in his debut season — earning All-Pro nods and helping propel the team to a 12-4 record and NFC North title. Injuries and cap constraints led to his 2022 trade to the Chargers, but Mack left an indelible mark: 36 sacks in 50 games as a Bear.
Now, with Montez Sweat anchoring one side of the line after a solid 2025 (8.5 sacks), the Bears desperately need a complementary pass rusher. Their pressure rate ranked a middling 22nd at 21.1%, and outside of Sweat, no defensive lineman notched more than 3.5 sacks. Mack, even in a down year limited to 12 games, delivered 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and 11 quarterback hits – numbers that would have led Chicago’s edges not named Sweat.
Beyond stats, Mack’s value lies in his leadership and scheme fit.
The Bears’ defense, under coordinator Dennis Allen, emphasizes versatile fronts that play to Mack’s strengths as a hybrid edge who can drop into coverage or bull-rush interior gaps. At a projected one-year, $18 million deal, he’s a low-risk addition for a team with over $50 million in cap space after restructures. Poles has prioritized defensive line upgrades, and while the draft offers depth at tackle and end, free agency demands a proven veteran to mentor young talents like Gervon Dexter Sr. and Austin Booker. Mack’s Pro Football Focus grade of 83.0 last season (12th among edges) proves he’s far from washed, offering immediate impact without blocking long-term plans.
The Chargers view Mack as a priority, but he’s exploring options, and Chicago makes sense.
Unfinished business lingers from his abrupt exit, and fans would erupt at the sight of No. 52 back in navy and orange.
For a Bears team eyeing back-to-back playoff berths behind Caleb Williams, Mack isn’t just the nostalgia play. He’s the edge piece that could turn a good defense into a great one, at a fair price.
Poles should make the call; the Mack era deserves an encore.
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