5 Chicago Bears with cases to make the Hall of Fame
By Evan Bruner
Chicago Bears HOF Candidate No. 2: Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack is the only member of this list who is still active, meaning he can continue to strengthen his already stellar résumé.
Upon being acquired via trade late in the preseason, Mack spearheaded the 2018 Bears defense, leading the team to a 12-4 record and an NFC North title.
It wasn’t just Mack’s individual play that impressed; his ability to elevate his teammates was also crucial to the team’s success. It can’t be considered a mere coincidence that Mack’s sudden arrival led to career years for Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller, Akiem Hicks, and more. Mack made the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons in Chicago and was the runner-up to Aaron Donald in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
As it currently stands, Mack is a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro, 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the 2010s All-Decade team. This alone makes him worthy of Hall of Fame consideration, and at 32, there is still time for him to do more.
Verdict: It’s hard to envision a world where Mack isn’t a clear Hall of Famer by the time his career wraps up. A first-ballot induction is very much in the cards.