EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Khalil Mack will become a free agent for the first time in his 11-year career. However, whether the Los Angeles Chargers linebacker decides to test the waters isn’t the first thing on his mind.
Mack said Sunday he was considering retirement but would take his time before making a final decision.
“I’ve got a lot of different thoughts going through my head right now. I really can’t make a definite decision on what I’m going to do,” Mack said after the Chargers lost 32-12 to Houston in the AFC wild-card round. Said as he cleaned out his locker. “I have to talk to my wife, spend some time with my kids, and try not to make rash decisions after failure. I try not to be emotional in the process and think clearly.”
Mack was selected to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time this season. He is the only player in the league with at least six sacks and nine passes defended this season.
Since entering the NFL in 2014, Mack has 107 1/2 sacks, the third-most sacks in that span. During that span, his 256 rushes led the league and his 454 quarterback pressures ranked second, along with forced fumbles (32) and strip sacks (24).
However, Mack did not enjoy postseason success. This season is only Mack’s fourth playoff appearance, with each postseason ending in a first-weekend loss.
“Based on who I am, I don’t want to go out with a loss. I definitely want to keep working hard and play some big games in the playoffs,” he said. “I try not to think too much ahead of time and give myself some time and grace to think things over.”
Mack entered the league in 2014, when the Oakland Raiders selected him with the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft. He was the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, but a week before the 2018 season, he and the Raiders failed to agree on a contract extension and was traded to the Chicago Bears.
Mack signed a six-year contract with the Bears that began with the 2019 season before being traded to the Chargers in 2022.
“I told myself not long ago that 10 years would be great. I lied to myself again,” Mike said. “Hopefully I can get a championship in the end, but things never happen. I feel like my career has been just smooth sailing, going with the flow and turning lemons into lemonade.”
Mike said he is considering retiring to spend more time with his family, which includes his two sons, ages 2 and 3. He added that his body was feeling good, especially since he usually doesn’t train before Wednesday’s game.
“It was more the mental stress of playing and the impact it has on your family. That was one of the things that had a big impact on my decision,” he said.
However, Mack will likely re-sign and return for another season with the Chargers, a team that has improved greatly in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as coach. The Bolts finished with an 11-6 record, a six-win improvement over 2023, allowed the fewest points in the league and ranked 11th in total defense.
Harbaugh has been one of Mack’s biggest supporters, often praising the veteran linebacker’s play and the leadership he brings to the locker room.
“It’s been a special year and I’ve seen what he’s done in a short period of time and the potential of this building. Growth is inevitable,” Mack said of Harbaugh. “What we were able to do and squeeze out was impressive.”
