As the Chicago Bears prepare for their divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, fans can’t help but take notice of Los Angeles Chargers star pass rusher Khalil Mack and his recent comments.
Mack, after a disappointing playoff loss to the New England Patriots, said he still has plans to retire as a champion (h/t Kris Rhim).
He’s set to become a free agent for the second time in his career, coming off a 32 total tackle, 5.5 sack season, and didn’t explicitly mention he would like to stay with the Chargers next season, opening the door for a potential reunion in Chicago.
“Not trying to make that decision right now like I’ve almost done before,” Mack said regarding free agency. “Trying to stay as present as possible, stay prayed up, make a decision based on how I’m feeling and how my family is feeling, the vibes. If the vibes are high, decisions will be made. Just figuring it out day by day.”
Just as a reminder, Mack has expressed his interest in returning to Chicago to play for the Bears.
“Sources believe Mack has interest in a return to Chicago, where he played from 2018-’21,” 670 the Score’s Chris Emma wrote back in March 2025. “Mack isn’t interested in the spotlight, but the vision would be for him to be a complementary piece of the defense, not the star.”
The Details Behind a Khalil Mack-Bears Reunion
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 21: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears on the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Soldier Field.
Mack will be 35 by the time next season rolls around, so it’s not like the Bears will be getting him in his prime like when the team traded for him back in 2018.
However, there’s no denying that Chicago will be looking to address the defensive line this offseason, whether that’s through free agency, the 2026 NFL Draft, or both.
According to ESPN Analytics Index, the Bears were tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the worst team in pass-rush-win-rate at just 29%.
Now, the Bears won’t be bringing in Mack to become the focal point of the defense, and even Mack knows that. In fact, he’ll be a rotational piece alongside Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, and Dayo Odeyingbo.
But for a team that has a serious chance of winning the Super Bowl next season, bringing Mack back could be more than just a heartfelt reunion for the Bears. His leadership, experience, and production make him an enticing option during free agency.
Factors Preventing a Potential Reunion
There are just a few problems. The Bears have multiple free agents that would be in the team’s best interest to re-sign, including Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Theo Benedet, and D’Marco Jackson.
Chicago is also at negative $1.5 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. So, the Bears will have to get creative and free up some cap space before they think about handing out a contract to Mack.
The hope for Chicago is that Mack will agree to come on a vet minimum contract; otherwise, it could be just wishful thinking for Bears fans.
Khalil Mack News Could Set Up a Reunion with Bears