Getty Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears. Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images.
A double-dose of Mack is about to take over the NFC North. Per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times, the Chicago Bears are signing University of Buffalo edge rusher Ledarius Mack — Khalil Mack’s younger brother. The younger Mack, who also wore the number 52 in college, played 13 games in 2019, starting one. He was named to the All-MAC conference second team at the defensive end position.
The #Bears are adding another Mack.
Congratulations, Ledarius on signing a free agent deal with the @ChicagoBears!
The elder Mack also attended the University of Buffalo, and will likely relish playing alongside his little brother, at least while the opportunity lasts. Mack is signing as an undrafted free agent, so he’ll have the chance of a lifetime to make the team and wear the same uniform his older brother wears.
Ledarius Mack Stats: A Deeper Dive Into Khalil Mack’s Little Brother
In his senior year at Buffalo, Mack led the team with 12 tackles for loss while notching eight sacks, which was third on the team. He also showed flashes of a skill his older brother has made his bread and butter in the NFL: forcing fumbles. Mack had a team-best three forced fumbles for the Bulls last year, and he’ll now have the opportunity to force fumbles alongside one of the best in the business in his All-Pro older brother.
Mack redshirted his first year at Buffalo in 2017, after transferring from ASA College. He played in 14 games in 2018 as a reserve on defense and on special teams. In 14 games in 2018, he had 16 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Ledarius Mack is 6′ 1″, 240 lbs, smaller than his 6’3″ 269 pound elder brother. The younger Mack ran a 4.66 40-yard dash and has a 76 1/4″ wingspan, so he has some un deniable physical gifts Chuck Pagano and company can work with. Like most undrafted free agents, he’ll likely need hard work and effective coaching.
Khalil Mack Once Said He Wanted Brother Ledarius to Be ‘Better Than Me’
After Ledarius transferred to the University of Buffalo in 2017, Mack was asked how he felt about his little brother following in his footsteps. “Whether it be with Buffalo or any other school, I know he can flourish and dominate,” Mack said then. “His game is raw right now in terms of fundamentals, but his athleticism is what will separate him. In comparison to me, I will do everything in my power to see that he is better than me, and I know he will do the same. That’s why Buffalo is lucky to have him — not only a freak athlete, but a fierce competitor and a hard worker.”
When Ledarius was asked back in 2017 if he felt any pressure to succeed at football considering how big his brother’s footsteps are, his answer seems quite interesting in retrospect: “I feel very comfortable with myself and honestly, my brother set the bar, but I just have to see how it’s going to play out,” he said, before adding “He wants to be great, and I want to be great. We both have kind of the same vision. I’m just grinding right now.”
Now, the grind is on to Chicago — with his brother by his side.