There are so many different scenarios that could play out this offseason for the Chicago Bears, but an incredible reunion has the potential to happen.
Pro Football Focus writer Daire Carragher named five veteran free agents who could chase a Super Bowl title with their next contract. Former Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack is available after his contract with the Los Angeles Chargers expired, leaving the door wide open for a potential reunion.
"While retirement is certainly on the table for the 34-year-old, a return to the Chicago Bears has also been floated out there. A completely different team from the one he left at the end of 2021, the current Bears share many of the same characteristics that made Los Angeles such an attractive landing spot back then, namely a budding superstar at quarterback entering his third season."
Could Khalil Mack return to Chicago in 2026?
Mack was part of a stunning trade in the 2018 offseason with the Bears, as he left the Oakland Raiders to go to Chicago. In his four seasons with the Bears, Mack racked up 163 tackles, 52 quarterback hits, 36 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, 14 forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections, six fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and one touchdown in 53 games. He made the Pro Bowl in three of those four years and was an All-Pro in 2018.
Chicago now has a chance to bring Mack back to the team after he spent the last four seasons with the Chargers. His production has declined over the years, but he had 17 sacks in 2023 and was a Pro Bowler from 2022 through 2024 with Los Angeles.
If the Bears decided to bring Mack in, then it would open the door for Chicago to look at the draft to bring in a younger edge rusher to learn behind him. The Bears also have Montez Sweat and Austin Booker, and they are more than capable of starting.
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The Bears have struggled because they haven't had enough pass rushers over the last few years, but adding Mack and a draft pick would finally give them the good problem of having too many.