The Chicago Bears have already gotten more out of their defense than plenty of people expected. Even so, there’s still a clear place to sharpen the roster, and the pass rush is the obvious spot.
That’s where Khalil Mack starts to make a whole lot of sense.
Chicago’s pass-rush win rate sits at 52 percent, which ESPN ranks 14th in the league. That’s respectable.
It’s also the kind of number that says the Bears are close, but not quite where they want to be. A player like Mack could push that group into a different tier.
And despite being 35 years young, Mack is still producing like a player who can tilt a game. With the Los Angeles Chargers off to a 0-4 start, the Bears should at least think hard about a reunion in Chicago.
Mack is on a one-year deal and wants one more shot at a Super Bowl contender before he’s done. Right now, Chicago offers a convincing case. Ben Johnson’s offensive juggernaut gives him that contender feel, and the defense around him has taken a real step forward.
His first run with the Bears was more than just productive. In 53 regular-season games, he piled up 36.0 sacks, 121 solo tackles, 42 assists, 35 tackles for loss, 52 QB hits, one safety, 11 passes defensed, 14 forced fumbles, six fumbles recovered, two interceptions, and one pick-six.
Chicago’s previous regime eventually traded him after an injury-riddled season as the team shifted toward a younger core. The return came in the form of Elijah Hicks, Jaquan Brisker, and Trenton Gill, and none of them are still with the team.
Mack then revived his career in Los Angeles, where he added 39.5 sacks and posted a 17.0-sack season. This year, he already has 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hits, and 14 total pressures. In other words, he’s still very much a problem for opposing offenses.
He’d bring more than production, too. Mack has always been one of the defining pass-rushers of his era, and he’s the kind of team-first veteran who could help younger players such as Dayo Odeyingbo, James Lynch, and Austin Booker.
Ryan Poles was right to move on when he did, and there doesn’t need to be any lingering resentment over it. Mack will have options if he becomes available, but Chicago may be able to sell him on the best overall fit. And compared with the Maxx Crosby trade fans keep imagining, this is the far more realistic path.
In Other News...
Bears Open Week 5 With A Protection Problem Fans Feared
The Bears opened Week 5 with a familiar and uncomfortable sight on the injury report, and this one hit right where the offense can least afford it. Chicago listed 12 players heading into the week, with seven not practicing, including three starting offensive linemen in Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney and Darnell Wright, a grouping that leaves the front in clear jeopardy before the game plan even gets into motion.
Caleb Williams was also ruled out and did not practice, adding another layer to an offense already trying to stabilize around a battered line. Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift were among the running backs sidelined by injuries, while the news was a little better on defense, where Kyler Gordon and Cam Lewis were full participants and appear close to returning. Still, the early week picture for Chicago was less about who might come back and more about how many key pieces are suddenly unavailable. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Strong Start Just Made One Trade Debate Very Real
Chicagos 3-1 start has changed the tone around the roster, and it has also turned a familiar conversation into a much more serious one: how much should the Bears lean into upgrading a defense that already looks capable of carrying real weight in the NFC? With the Los Angeles Chargers stumbling, the idea of Chicago shopping in that direction suddenly feels less like idle deadline chatter and more like a plausible way to address a unit that could still use another jolt.
The most obvious name in that discussion is Khalil Mack, whose presence would bring instant credibility and familiarity, but he is not the only Chargers defender drawing attention. Tuli Tuipulotu and Cam Hart also fit the kind of long-view roster questions that matter if Los Angeles begins to think differently about its future. For Chicago, the appeal is clear: if the Chargers are drifting toward a reset, the Bears may have a chance to pounce on a player who fits a need before the market gets crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Luther Burden III Just Added Real Heat To Bears Packers Week 5
Luther Burden III is making it clear the Bears are treating Week 5 like more than just another early-season game. The rookie wideout put the rivalry front and center this week, underscoring Chicagos eagerness to beat Green Bay and do it in convincing fashion, while the bigger backdrop only adds to the temperature around the matchup. Ben Johnson also brings some useful history into this one, with a strong track record against Packers coach Matt LaFleur, including a recent playoff win.
Chicago enters the week with reasons to feel better about where it sits than it has in past editions of this rivalry. The Packers have shown cracks along the offensive line, and the Bears own roster looks deeper and more stable, especially on defense. Burdens comments fit the moment well, because this is the kind of game where confidence, edge and a little extra bite can matter almost as much as the usual Xs and Os. [Read more 🡒]