Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 52 Days with Khalil Mack
By Peter Jurich
Chicago Bears trade Khalil Mack to Chargers, reunion with Staley
In 2021, Mack sustained a foot injury that required mid-season surgery after only seven games. He played well in limited time, however, to the tune of six sacks and six tackles for loss. Unfortunately, after the team hired head coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles the following offseason, the team elected to trade Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2022 2nd round selection and a 2023 sixth-round selection, the first of which turned into starting safety Jaquan Brisker. The Chargers took on the remainder of Mack's contract.
In Los Angeles, the former Bear created one of the most respected pass-rushing duos in the league alongside Joey Bosa and was able to reunite with head coach Brandon Staley, who was the Bears' defensive coordinator during perhaps Mack's best season with the team. Last season, Mack started in every game for a loaded Chargers defense, and his eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, two fumbles, and two pass deflections helped the team reach the playoffs. Mack himself was voted to the Pro Bowl for the seventh time in his career.
Today, Mack is preparing to enter his 10th NFL season and his second with the Chargers. The former Buffalo great is one of several great defensive players in a loaded AFC West, but his main goals still include terrorizing the division's quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Jimmy Garropolo, who now quarterbacks the team who drafted him.
Mack's four seasons with the Bears framed an extremely successful defensive window for the team that included several finishing within the top of the league in points allowed, yards allowed, and turnovers. Mack was able to be teammates with several high-caliber defensive players as a Bear, especially amongst the front seven, including the likes of Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith, Robert Quinn, and Leonard Floyd.
As an individual, Mack recorded 163 total tackles, 35 of which were for a loss, 36 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and two interceptions in what were essentially 3.5 seasons. His sack total is ranked 17th in team history, just one behind Wally Chambers, and is ranked in the top five in forced fumbles alongside Charles Tillman, Richard Dent, Alex Brown, and Lance Briggs. During his Bears tenure, Mack was named to three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.